Air Gap Device for Medical Instrument Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatuses, particularly those with narrow lumens and multiple internal channels like endoscopes, face challenges in preventing contamination due to biofilm formation and cross-contamination risks, especially since the liquid disinfecting units are not adequately monitored for downstream contamination.
Innovation Solution
An air gap device is integrated with a liquid disinfecting unit to prevent contamination by forming an integral part of the liquid disinfecting unit-air gap assembly, ensuring that tap water is disinfected before entering the reprocessing cycle and reducing the risk of biofilm formation within the feed conduct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid disinfecting unit is used to disinfect tap water, then contamination from tap water is reduced, but the downstream conduct remains vulnerable to contamination and biofilm formation
Solution Approach 1:
An air gap device is introduced as an intermediary component between the liquid disinfecting unit and the downstream conduct. This air gap acts as a physical barrier and monitoring point that prevents direct liquid flow from the disinfecting unit to the downstream conduct, thereby eliminating the contamination risk in the downstream section while preserving the disinfection effectiveness of the liquid disinfecting unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduct is segmented into distinct sections by introducing the air gap device. The first section receives disinfected liquid from the liquid disinfecting unit, while the second section (downstream) is isolated by the air gap. This segmentation allows the downstream section to be protected from contamination while the upstream section maintains its disinfection function.
2Reliability
If the conduct is continuously monitored for contamination, then downstream contamination can be detected, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap device serves as a passive intermediary that provides inherent monitoring capability without requiring complex active sensing systems. The air gap itself acts as a visual and physical indicator of contamination status, allowing simple monitoring while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gap device provides self-monitoring functionality through its design. The presence or absence of liquid in the air gap visually indicates contamination status or flow interruptions, allowing the system to monitor itself without additional complex monitoring equipment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an air gap is introduced to prevent downstream contamination, then contamination risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air gap device is merged with the existing conduct structure, integrating the contamination prevention function into the current system architecture. This integration minimizes additional complexity while achieving the desired contamination protection in the downstream section.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The air gap device effectively reduces contamination risks by ensuring that only disinfected water enters the reprocessing cycle, minimizing the formation of biofilms and enhancing the robustness and control of the reprocessing process, thereby preventing cross-contamination and ensuring a more reliable cleaning and disinfection process.
Implementation Method 1
the air gap device comprising a housing jacket defining two end surfaces: a first end surface adapted to allow liquid to enter the air gap device and a second end surface adapted to discharge liquid from the air gap device
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an air gap device for a medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus, the device comprising a housing having a first end adapted to allow liquid to enter the device and a second end adapted to discharge liquid from the device, wherein the first end comprises means for connecting the device to a disinfecting unit. The device further comprises handling means for handling the device. The present invention relates to a liquid disinfecting cartridge comprising the air gap device and the liquid disinfecting unit. Further, the present invention relates to a liquid disinfecting unit and air gap device intended for use in the liquid disinfecting cartridge and relates to an assembly of the medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus and the liquid disinfecting cartridge. The invention also relates to a method for interchangeably coupling the liquid disinfecting cartridge with the medical instrument cleaning and disinfecting apparatus.