Pre-formed Adhesive Strip Apparatus for Sterile Medical Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional adhesive strips in healthcare settings are time-consuming to access, often contaminated, and increase the risk of infection due to repeated use and poor hygiene practices, leading to exposure to pathogens.

Innovation Solution

A pre-formed apparatus comprising a series of overlayed adhesive strips with a non-adhesive fold allowing easy access and separation of individual strips, maintaining sterility and reducing contact with undesired surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive strips are stored individually and accessed one at a time, then sterility is maintained, but time is wasted reaching for and positioning individual strips

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidtime to access individual strips

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adhesive strips are combined into a single integrated apparatus where strips are stacked together with their adhesive surfaces facing each other. The strips are held together by side edges, creating one unified structure that maintains sterility while allowing rapid access to multiple strips simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive strips are pre-assembled into a ready-to-use configuration before use. The strips are pre-positioned with adhesive surfaces facing each other and held together by side edges, eliminating the need for time-consuming assembly or positioning during actual use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If adhesive strips are reused multiple times, then cost is reduced, but contamination and infection risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of adhesive stripsVSAvoidcontamination and pathogen exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is segmented into multiple individual adhesive strips that can be separated and used independently. Each strip can be accessed and removed individually from the stack, allowing for single-use application that prevents cross-contamination while maintaining cost efficiency through bulk packaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If adhesive strips are accessed frequently, then usability is improved, but hygiene compliance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of adhesive stripsVSAvoidhand hygiene compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple adhesive strips are merged into a single apparatus that can be held and manipulated as one unit. This allows healthcare providers to access multiple strips without repeatedly handling individual strips or rolling tape, thereby maintaining hygiene compliance while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11866621B1Pre-formed adhesive strip apparatus and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 HENDERSON KENNETH RAY

AI summary

The invention is an apparatus that allows individual adhesive strips to be easily and efficiently accessed by a medical professional. Specifically, the apparatus is defined by a series of adhesive strips that are offset and overlayed. Each adhesives strip includes a folded edge that allows a medical professional to grasp an individual adhesive strip, remove it from the adjacent strip, and use it for a particular application. When an additional adhesive strip is needed, the medical professional can repeat the process with the next (e.g., top) adhesive strip until all of the strips have been used.