Collapsible Sterilization Container with Frangible Lid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current sterilization containers, such as gas permeable wraps and reusable vented rigid containers, face issues like material tears, lack of visibility, and high maintenance costs, leading to potential contamination and inefficient resource use.

Innovation Solution

Single-use, substantially transparent rigid sterilization containers with a living hinge tray, a locking mechanism, and a gas permeable filter, allowing visual inspection and ensuring sterility confidence through easy handling and disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sterilization wrap made of thin flexible material is used, then cost is reduced, but material strength and protection capability deteriorate causing tears and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization integrityVSAvoidwrap material strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable sterilization container system consisting of a tray and lid that is used once and then discarded. This eliminates the need for repeated cleaning and maintenance of reusable containers while providing sufficient strength for single-use sterilization. The container is designed to be strong enough for its intended purpose but is replaced after one use, avoiding the degradation issues of reusable containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The sterilization container is constructed from multiple materials with different properties: the tray is made of a rigid material (such as plastic or metal) to provide structural strength and prevent tearing, while the lid is made of a gas-permeable material to allow sterilant passage. This composite construction combines the strength benefits of rigid materials with the sterilization functionality of gas-permeable materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If sterilization wrap made of non-transparent material is used, then cost is reduced, but visibility and inspection capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization assuranceVSAvoidvisual inspection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The lid of the sterilization container is made of a translucent or transparent material that allows visual inspection of the contents and sterilization status. This transparency enables medical professionals to verify that the correct tray is being used and to check for signs of proper sterilization without compromising the sterilization process, as the gas-permeable properties are maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If reusable vented rigid containers are used, then sterilization reliability is improved, but maintenance time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization efficacyVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If pointed edges on metal sterilization tray are used, then item containment is improved, but wrap integrity deteriorates causing tears

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem containment capabilityVSAvoidwrap material integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is designed with modified edge geometry that eliminates sharp pointed edges while maintaining the ability to contain various medical instruments. The edges are rounded or chamfered to prevent snagging and tearing of the sterilization wrap or container materials, while still providing adequate containment for different shaped instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides economical, visually inspectable, and confident sterility assurance, reducing rehandling and resource waste by ensuring effective sterilization and easy disposal of medical instruments.

Implementation Method 1

a gas permeable filter positioned in communication with a side of the lid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Implementation Method 2

the gas permeable material in the sterilization wrap or vents within the rigid container allow a gas sterilant to contact the item to be sterilized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS8518341B2Collapsible sterilization container

Publication Date: 2013.08.27 O&M HALYARD INC

AI summary

A collapsible single-use sterilization container for use in the sterilization of medical instruments is provided. The sterilization container includes a lid having central portion defined by a frangible region. Upon activation of the frangible region, the central portion may be removed rendering the sterilization container inoperable for future use.