Disposable Medical Waste Manifold with RFID Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing medical waste collection systems face challenges in efficiently and safely managing the filtration and disposal of medical waste, particularly due to contamination issues with reusable manifolds, which can lead to compromised quality and biohazard risks if not properly reprocessed.
Innovation Solution
A manifold design for medical waste collection systems that includes a housing with a filter element, a seal, and a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag, facilitating safe and efficient coupling and decoupling, with a filter element that is single-use and disposable to prevent contamination, and an RFID tag for tracking usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the manifold is made reusable and reprocessed, then cost is reduced, but contamination risk increases and quality becomes compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is designed as a single-use disposable component rather than a reusable item. This eliminates contamination risks associated with reprocessing while maintaining cost-effectiveness through optimized design and material selection for disposable applications. The manifold is discarded after one use, ensuring patient safety without requiring complex reprocessing protocols.
2Reliability
If the manifold includes a filter element with intricate geometries, then filtration performance is improved, but contamination during use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is integrated into a single-use manifold design, allowing complex filtration geometries to be implemented without contamination concerns. The intricate filter structures can be optimized for maximum filtration performance knowing the entire assembly will be discarded after one use, eliminating the need for cleanability requirements.
3Reliability
If the manifold is designed for single-use and disposable, then contamination is prevented, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components (manifold, filter element, seal, locking mechanisms) are merged into a single integrated disposable unit. This consolidation reduces assembly costs, eliminates reprocessing expenses, and ensures consistent quality while maintaining safety through single-use design. The combined structure is optimized for cost-effective manufacturing as a complete assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable manifold is designed to perform multiple functions (filtration, coupling, locking, sealing) within a single integrated structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and processing steps, lowering overall cost while maintaining high reliability through comprehensive single-use design.
4Reliability
If the manifold includes locking mechanisms and intricate geometries, then coupling robustness is improved, but reprocessing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex locking mechanisms and intricate geometries are implemented in the single-use manifold without concern for reprocessing. The robust coupling features can be optimized for maximum security and reliability, knowing the component will be discarded after one use rather than requiring cleanability or reusability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical waste collection system for collecting medical waste material, and a manifold for filtering the waste material and/or coupling a suction tube to the system. The system may include a receiver in which the manifold is configured to be inserted in a proximal direction to facilitate an inlet mechanism moving correspondingly in the distal direction. The manifold may include an arm, a spine, a lock element, and/or a catch each having a surface with a relative position in the proximal-to-distal direction. The rim and the catch may be spaced apart by a void, and the rim may be positioned below the catch. The housing may include a body portion, a first leg extending proximally from the body portion, and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg to define the void. The rim may be on the first leg, and the catch may be on the second leg.