Medical device sterilizers and magnetizers

Abstract

The system, apparatus, and method relate to a magnetizer comprising at least one magnetizing element and an irradiation source. The housing defines a cavity communicating with an opening. By placing a medical device, such as a needle, into the cavity through the opening, the needle is exposed to the irradiation source while being magnetized for imprinting a magnetic signature. Optionally, a switching mechanism may be activated when the needle passes through / engages with the opening and the irradiation source and / or magnetizing element are activated. Advantageously, the needle may be sterilized while being magnetized. Furthermore, the cavity may be sterilized to prevent contamination of the needle during magnetization.

Claims

1. It is a magnetizer, A housing defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more sides extending between them, A cavity located within the housing and communicating with an opening located on the upper surface, wherein the opening and the cavity are configured to receive the distal portion of a medical device within them, A magnetizing element is placed in the wall of the cavity, An irradiation source is positioned in the wall of the cavity and configured to guide ultraviolet light into the cavity. A magnetizer equipped with the following features.

2. In the magnetizer according to claim 1, A magnetizer wherein the magnetizing element is configured to magnetize a part of the medical device.

3. In the magnetizer according to claim 1 or 2, A magnetizer in which the magnetizing element is configured to imprint a magnetic signature onto the medical device.

4. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The irradiation source is a magnetizer configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of 100 to 280 nm.

5. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The irradiation source is a magnetizer configured to emit one or more of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C radiation.

6. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The aforementioned irradiation source is a magnetizer, which is one of the following: an LED bulb, a light bulb, an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent tube, or a low-pressure mercury vapor gas discharge lamp.

7. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A magnetizer wherein the opening further includes a switching mechanism configured to transition one or both of the magnetizing element and the irradiation source between an activated state and an inactivated state.

8. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A magnetizer wherein the opening further includes one of a door or flap configured to reduce radiation from the irradiation source escaping through the cavity.

9. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The medical device is a magnetizer, which includes one of a needle, a guidewire, or a stylet containing a magnetizable material.

10. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, In order to align the distal portion of the medical device with the central axis of the cavity, To align the distal portion of the medical device with the irradiation source at a predetermined distance, or In order to prevent the distal tip of the medical device from colliding with the lower surface of the cavity, The proximal portion of the medical device is a magnetizer that engages with the opening.

11. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, The proximal portion of the medical device is a magnetizer that engages with the openings by a Luer lock engagement to provide a seal between them and to prevent UV radiation from escaping from the cavity.

12. In the magnetizer according to claim 11, A magnetizer that activates a switching mechanism by engaging the proximal portion of the medical device with the opening.

13. In the magnetizer according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A magnetizer in which the irradiation source is disposed between the outer surface of the housing and the inner surface of the cavity, the inner surface of the cavity being transparent or translucent, and the outer surface of the housing being opaque.

14. A method for magnetizing and sterilizing medical devices, A portion of the medical device is placed in a cavity defined by a housing that defines a top surface, a bottom surface, and one or more sides extending between them, wherein the cavity is located within the housing and communicates with an opening located on the top surface. A portion of the medical device is magnetized using a magnetizing element placed in the wall of the cavity, A portion of the medical device is sterilized using an irradiation source positioned in the wall of the cavity and configured to guide ultraviolet light into the cavity. A method that includes [a certain feature].

15. In the method according to claim 14, A method for magnetizing a portion of the medical device, comprising imprinting a magnetic signature onto the medical device.

16. In the method according to claim 14 or 15, The method wherein the irradiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range of 100 to 280 nm.

17. In the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, A method wherein the irradiation source is configured to emit one or more of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C radiation.

18. In the method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, The method wherein the irradiation source is one of an LED bulb, a light bulb, an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a fluorescent tube, or a low-pressure mercury vapor gas discharge lamp.

19. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18 further, A method comprising a switching mechanism operably coupled to the opening to transition one or both of the magnetizing element and the irradiation source between an activated state and an inactivated state.

20. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 19 further, A method comprising closing a door or flap above the opening in order to reduce radiation escaping from the cavity.

21. In the method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, The medical device comprises a method including one of a needle, a guidewire, or a stylet containing a magnetizable material.

22. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 21 further, In order to align the distal portion of the medical device with the central axis of the cavity, To align the distal portion of the medical device with a predetermined distance from the irradiation source, or In order to prevent the distal tip of the medical device from colliding with the lower surface of the cavity, A method comprising engaging the proximal portion of the medical device with the opening.

23. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 22 further, A method comprising engaging the proximal portion of the medical device with the opening by a Luer lock engagement in order to provide a seal between the proximal portion of the medical device and the opening and to prevent UV radiation from escaping from the cavity.

24. In the method according to claim 23, A method for activating a switching mechanism by engaging the proximal portion of the medical device with the opening.

25. In the method according to any one of claims 14 to 24, The method wherein the irradiation source is positioned between the outer surface of the housing and the inner surface of the cavity, the inner surface of the cavity being transparent or translucent, and the outer surface of the housing being opaque.

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