Needlestick Protection

Needlestick injuries are one of the most common injuries for those in the healthcare industry. It is caused by contact with used sharps and needles usually when recapping after use, exposing the workers to bloodborne diseases like hepatitis and HIV. It can be addressed with safer methods of recapping and disposal. In accordance with the CDC's National Institution for Occupational Safety and Health publications, I began designing safer needle shields, that though are already in use, are not always used globally and can be produced quicker and cheaper through 3D printing.

1. CAD Software - I used Autodesk Fusion
2. 3D Slicing Software - I used Prusa Slicer
3. 3D Printer - I used the Original Prusa MINI
4. PLA Filament - About 9.33 m
5. Tiny jewelry hinges - easier and more effective than printing (https://tinyurl.com/3v9m76fr)
6. Hot glue - adhesive

1. Begin a sketch on the top plane
2. draw two concentric circles measuring 22 mm and 20 mm
3. extrude the smaller circle 65 mm and the larger one 5 mm
4. chamfer the narrow end of the plunger 2 mm

1. start a sketch on the top plane
2. draw a 21 mm circle and extrude the profile up 88 mm
3. create another sketch on top of this body and draw a 15 mm circle and extrude it up 5 mm
4. draw a large 28 mm circle around the entire body and extrude it up 5 mm
5. draw a last circle sketch on top of this face of 3 mm and extrude it up 25 mm
6. now draw a circle of 5.5 mm on the right plane and revolve it around the y-axis, creating a groove
7. cut an 18 mm circle 85 mm into the body

1. draw a 22.5 circle on the top plane and a 25 mm circle around it
2. extrude this ring up 10 mm
3. draw an identical ring on top of this face and extrude up 25 mm
4. draw a line on top of these faces and split the body with this line
5. hide one half of the tube
6. draw a rectangle of 8 mm by 6 mm on the right plane beside the body and extrude cut it to create a flat section on the body

1. import the stl file into a slicing software and split the bodies into components
2. print and hot glue hinges onto the flat sections and the split body onto the ring