Disposable MRI Bore Liners for Sterility and Turnover

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Solution Overview

Problem

MRI scanners pose a risk of cross-contamination due to their environment being conducive to bacterial growth, and existing methods for maintaining sterility, such as cleaning or draping, are labor-intensive and time-consuming, reducing scanner utilization and posing infection risks.

Innovation Solution

A pack of disposable, multi-layered, tear-away sterile liner sheets with a sturdy backing layer and attachment mechanisms to securely fit the MRI bore, allowing for easy installation and quick replacement of sheets to maintain a sterile environment between patient scans.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bore wall is fully sterilized between each use by spraying and scrubbing, then sterility is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility maintenanceVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bore wall covering is divided into multiple individual sheets that can be independently installed and removed. Each sheet can be separately handled, making the replacement process faster and more efficient compared to covering the entire bore wall as one large piece.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static cleaning process (spraying and scrubbing) to a dynamic replacement process where sheets are installed and removed as needed. This allows for quicker turnover between patients while maintaining sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sterile covering is draped over the bore wall to prevent contact, then cross-contamination is reduced, but manual removal and reattachment is labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoiddraping operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sterile covering is segmented into multiple individual sheets rather than one large drape. This segmentation makes each sheet easier to handle, install, and remove individually, reducing the labor intensity of the draping operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The liner sheets are designed as disposable items that are discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for complex removal and reattachment processes, as each sheet is simply peeled off and discarded, significantly reducing labor intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If disposable liner sheets are used to cover the bore wall, then sterility is maintained with less labor, but the sheets must be securely attached to the non-linear surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheet replacementVSAvoidattachment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The liner sheets are made from flexible materials that can conform to the non-linear bore wall surface. This flexibility allows the sheets to be easily attached and removed without requiring complex rigid attachment mechanisms, simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The sheets are designed to accommodate the curved, non-linear geometry of the bore wall. By incorporating curvature compliance into the sheet design, the attachment mechanism remains simple while ensuring secure fitment to the complex surface geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Reliability

If the bore wall is cleaned thoroughly to prevent infection, then patient safety is improved, but scanner utilization is reduced due to extended cleaning time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection preventionVSAvoidscanner utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Disposable liner sheets are used instead of reusable coverings that require extensive cleaning. The sheets are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for time-consuming cleaning procedures between patients and maximizing scanner utilization while maintaining infection prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The liner sheets are pre-packaged in sterile condition before use. This preliminary sterilization eliminates the need for on-site cleaning procedures between patients, allowing for rapid turnover and maximum scanner utilization while ensuring infection prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10478088B2Disposable contamination prevention liners for MRI machines

Publication Date: 2019.11.19 FINK MICHAEL F

AI summary

A pack of disposable multi-layered liner sheets suitable for covering non-planar surfaces of medical scanners having a long, hard to clean, bore or tunnel, particularly MRI scanners, to establish a sterile patient environment. Liner sheets are connected end-to-end in a stack by an adhesive or a linear array of perforations to respective succeeding and preceding sheets of the pack. In one embodiment, the pack is secured inside the bore by pegs on the top side of the pack engaging strategically placed clips attached to the bore wall. In other embodiments, the pack is secured inside the bore by opposing sides of a backing layer extending laterally beyond the liner sheets to engage a groove in guide rails affixed inside the bore.