Female Connector Disinfection Collar With Visual Completion Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disinfection practices for vascular access devices (VADs) suffer from low compliance with recommended scrubbing protocols, leading to increased risks of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) due to inconsistent disinfection of needleless connectors.
Innovation Solution
A disinfection device with an absorbent material containing a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent, inner and outer housings, an indicator element, and a transparent collar that provides visual confirmation of disinfection through a rotating mechanism, ensuring thorough disinfection of female medical connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual feedback mechanism is added to disinfection device, then compliance with disinfection protocols is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-changing indicator elements that transition from an initial color to a different color when exposed to the disinfectant solution. This visual color change provides immediate feedback to the user that the disinfection process has been completed, thereby enhancing compliance without requiring complex electronic or mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The disinfection device is designed to automatically indicate when disinfiction is complete through the self-changing indicator element that reacts chemically or physically with the disinfectant solution. The system serves itself by using the disinfectant's presence to trigger the visual indication, eliminating the need for external sensors or power sources.
2Loss of information
If rotation mechanism with rib removal is used for visual indication, then disinfection completion is clearly indicated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator element is pre-configured with a specific portion that will be removed during the normal rotation operation. The rib elements are designed to automatically remove this predetermined portion when the device is rotated, providing a clear visual indication without requiring high-precision manufacturing of the removal mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator element undergoes a physical parameter change (removal of a portion) that is easily achievable through standard manufacturing tolerances. The design accepts variations in rib geometry and rotation precision while still achieving reliable visual indication, as the key parameter is the presence/absence of the indicator portion rather than exact dimensional precision.
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
Enhances compliance with disinfection protocols by providing visual feedback, ensuring complete disinfection of needleless connectors, thereby reducing the risk of CRBSIs.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent material having a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent
Implementation Method 2
The inner housing includes an inner wall and a first open end that receives the absorbent material wherein the female connector is inserted into the first open end and contacts the absorbent material
Implementation Method 3
Rotation of the collar causes the at least one rib element to remove sufficient portions of the indicator element to expose the second visual indicator
Data Source
AI summary
A disinfection device for disinfecting a female medical connector. The device includes an inner housing having an absorbent material that includes a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent that receives the connector. The device also includes an outer housing having an outer wall that receives the inner housing wherein the inner housing is rotatable within the outer housing. An indicator is located between the outer wall and a transparent collar that includes at least one rib. The indicator includes a first visual indicator and a second visual indicator concealed by the first visual indicator. The inner housing includes a boss element that extends through the outer wall and indicator and is attached to the collar. Rotation of the collar causes rotation of the absorbent material and causes the rib to remove sufficient portions of the indicator to expose the second visual indicator to provide visual indication that the connector is disinfected.