Apparatus and method of automatically removing a needle
Patent # US20170173272A1
United States

Concern in contemporary dental practice because of the underlying possibility of transmission of blood-borne viruses. The estimated transmission rates for hepatitis B (HBV) to non-vaccinated recipients, hepatitis C (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after a needlestick injury from a dental needle are 6-30%, 2.7-10% and 0.1-0.3% respectively, because of the rise in HCV positive.

Application: Dental practice

Issue: Sharp needle injuries in dental practice

Injuries from dental syringe needle recapping remain a concern in contemporary dental practice because of the underlying possibility of transmission of blood-borne viruses*.

The estimated transmission rate for hepatitis B (HBV) to non-vaccinated recipients, hepatitis C (HIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after a needle are 6-30%, 2.7-10% and 0.1-0.3% respectively (total of up to 43%).

The emphasis must therefore be on prevention to reduce the likelihood of a sharp exposure during recapping of needle.

In terms of equipment, this could mean a shift from the traditional needle/syringe usage to a system which engineered built-in fully automated syringe recapping (for multiple injection which maintaining sterility) and removing the needle when done fully automatic.

The design of the traditional dental metallic cartridge syringe dates back to the 1920s, and the design poses an inherent problem in that, there is often risk of Syringe hub stays with the needle during the removal. Thus operators (dentists or assistants) must remove the hub from needle before they dispose the sharp needle. This itself increase additional risk particularly since the hub is not disposable and must be reattached/ reassemble to the syringe after autoclave sterilization process.

* Percutaneous injury is one of the major risk factors in the transmission of hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1,2]. HCV is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis [3], and to date there is no protective vaccine against HCV. Thus, it is crucial to develop an effective strategy to monitor and manage needle stick injuries (NSIs) among dentist care workers.

Conclusion: This technology/invention disentangle all of the associated needle stick harms.