Disinfecting Capping Device for Medical Needles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reuse of contaminated needles and other sharp medical objects poses a significant risk of bloodstream infections due to inadequate disinfection practices, particularly in situations where multiple uses are necessary and aseptic techniques are compromised, especially in underdeveloped countries where medical supplies are scarce.

Innovation Solution

A disinfecting capping device with a container and disinfecting members impregnated with antibacterial or antiviral agents, designed to accommodate sharp medical objects, ensuring effective disinfection by bringing the object's surface into contact with the disinfecting agent before reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If needles and sharp medical objects are reused multiple times, then productivity increases, but the risk of bloodstream infection increases due to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of uses per needleVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies preliminary disinfection action by placing a disinfecting member (alcohol-impregnated sponge or swab) inside the protective cover before the needle is inserted. This ensures the needle surface is disinfected in advance before any potential contamination can occur during storage or transport, allowing safe reuse without increasing infection risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The disinfecting member acts as an intermediary between the needle and the contaminated external environment. By placing this alcohol-impregnated intermediate layer inside the protective cover, the needle surface is indirectly disinfected through contact during insertion, enabling safe multiple uses while blocking contamination pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If alcohol scrubbing is performed for 10-60 seconds before each use, then disinfection effectiveness improves, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisinfection effectivenessVSAvoidtime for scrubbing procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The disinfecting action is performed preliminarily during needle insertion into the protective cover, eliminating the need for separate pre-use scrubbing steps. The alcohol-impregnated disinfecting member contacts the needle surface automatically as it is inserted, providing disinfection without requiring additional time from the healthcare provider

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-disinfection through the automatic contact between the needle and the alcohol-impregnated disinfecting member during the normal insertion process. No additional manual scrubbing action is required from the user, as the disinfection occurs passively through the design of the protective cover system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If protective covers are used during storage, then contamination risk reduces, but the covers themselves can become contaminated and transfer pathogens to the needle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination risk during storageVSAvoidcover contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alcohol-impregnated disinfecting member serves as an intermediary barrier between the protective cover and the needle. Even if the cover exterior becomes contaminated during storage or transport, the disinfecting member prevents direct contact between the contaminated cover and the needle surface, blocking the contamination pathway

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device converts the potentially harmful situation of using protective covers that may become contaminated into a beneficial disinfection mechanism. The presence of the contaminated cover triggers the disinfecting action as the needle passes through the alcohol-impregnated member, turning the contamination risk into an opportunity for enhanced disinfection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 device effectively reduces the risk of bloodstream infections by providing a convenient and reliable means of disinfecting sharp medical objects, enhancing safety in both compliant and non-compliant populations, and in resource-limited settings.

Implementation Method 1

a first disinfecting member disposed on an internal surface of the side of the container between the open end and the bottom of the container so as to form a cavity for receiving the sharp medical object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10813834B2Disinfecting capping device for sharp medical objects

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 DRMA GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC

AI summary

A disinfecting capping device for a sharp medical object, such as a medical needle, is provided. The device includes a container comprising a bottom, an open end opposite to the bottom, and a side disposed between the open end and the bottom of the container. The device further includes a first disinfecting member disposed on the internal surface of the side of the container between the open end and the bottom thereof so as to form a cavity for receiving the sharp medical object through the open end of the container.