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Safe-T-Clip ™ Safety Mechanism For Hypodermic Needle by Métier Medical Limited |
Home > Winners > Design #41942 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
ML: To provide a high quality, simple to use sharps injury prevention feature built into a hypodermic needle that would provide assurance that the safety feature would lock solidly and securely over the needle after injection to safeguard the healthcare worker against the daily risk of needlestick injury.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
ML: A secure locking mechanism which would prevent any possibility of the safety cover being pulled back from the needle after activation (a flaw that was identified in similar products). The focus was to provide for a locking design at the base of the safety cover in addition to the locks contained within the safety cover which are designed to lock over the needle. The design of the locking system at the base needed to be such that once activated, release of the lock was impossible therefore preventing any liklihood of the cover being pulled back from the needle after activation.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
ML: The Company has identified practical uses of the Secure-Lok ® for other safety products currently under development.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
ML: Approximately 6 months.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
ML: During research of the Company's version 1 safety needle, it was identified that with a little force the safety cover could actually be pulled away from the needle after activation. This also applied to other products which were in the market. With the assistance of the Company's Director, Larry Minix work commenced on a locking design which would prevent any ability for the cover to be released from its locked position.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
ML: As the Secure-Lok ® has a patent pending, the Company has a licence agreement in place with a manufacturing partner.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
ML: A motivation to provide quality safety products.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
ML: Yes, flaws in the locking capabilities of competitive product.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
ML: hospitals, clinics, aged care facilities
FS: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
ML: The design of the mushroom shaped locking apertures and locking heads which in their design, once activated cannot be released.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
ML: The name Secure-Lok ® identifies the fact that the enhanced locking on the cover will provide secure locking and assurance for the healthcare worker that the device will not release once activated.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
ML: The principal of zip tie was the basis of the concept where the lock cannot be pulled back.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
ML: The mushroom shaped locking apertures and locking heads.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
ML: Engineers were engaged to formulate the technical specifications and produce a working prototype. Two designs were initially trialled, one rectangular and the other mushroom shaped apertures and heads. The rectangular design was not nearly as effective as the mushroom shaped design.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
ML: To produce such a locking mechanism attached to the base of a needle which would activate successfully in conjunction with two additional locking mechanisms located within the body of the needle cover.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
ML: Initially the design was inflenced through market research when developing our version 1 needle and feedback on the design and ineffective locking mechanisms of other product in the market.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
ML: Ensuring that the two separate locking systems worked effectively together - adjustments were required to perfect the simultaneous action. Avoiding too much bulkiness at the base with the Secure-Lok ® to fit with our slimline design and ensuring it still provided for a clear view of the injection site for the healthcare worker.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
ML: The idea was suggested to us because of its unique design and enhanced safety.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
ML: We were able to identify that whilst the market requires cost effective product it also requires quality and a product that does as it says in providing the assurance of safety for the healthcare worker.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
ML: No
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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