Elastomeric Hospital Rail Strap for Easy Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IV pole and hospital bed rail attachment devices pose challenges for infection control due to large surface areas and complex designs with crevices, making effective decontamination difficult, and are often not economically disposable, risking contamination of healthcare workers and patients.
Innovation Solution
A multi-orientation strap apparatus constructed from a continuous elastomeric material with a simple, molded body design that allows for easy decontamination and economical disposal, featuring protrusions and receiving portions for secure attachment to IV poles and bed rails, ensuring a sturdy connection while minimizing surface area for contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex multi-part attachment devices are used, then attachment reliability is improved, but decontamination difficulty increases due to large surface areas and crevices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple attachment components into a single integrated molded body structure. The attachment device includes a body portion with integrated clamping arms and fastening mechanisms that are formed as one continuous piece, eliminating crevices and joints where contaminants could accumulate, thereby enabling easy decontamination while maintaining reliable attachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible elastomeric material for the attachment device body that can deform to accommodate different pole diameters and configurations. This flexibility allows the device to conform to various IV pole and bed rail structures, ensuring reliable attachment while the smooth flexible surface prevents contamination accumulation and facilitates easy cleaning.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable elastomeric attachment devices are used, then infection control is improved through easy disposal, but attachment strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the attachment device as a disposable elastomeric product that can be easily discarded after use, eliminating the need for complex sterilization processes. The device is constructed from cost-effective elastomeric material that maintains sufficient attachment strength for its intended single-use application, thereby improving infection control while remaining economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastomeric material with specific mechanical properties that provide adequate attachment strength for holding medical equipment and patient items. The material composition is selected to balance disposability with functional performance, ensuring the device can securely attach to poles and rails while being suitable for single-use and disposal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If simple molded body design is used, then decontamination ease is improved, but adaptability to different orientations may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic elements into the molded body design, including flexible arms and adjustable clamping mechanisms that can adapt to different orientations and configurations. The elastomeric material allows the structure to deform and reconfigure itself to accommodate various attachment scenarios (vertical poles, horizontal rails, different angles) while maintaining a smooth controllable surface for easy decontamination.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-orientation attachment apparatus constructed of molded silicone or another form of elastomeric substance and configured to be selectively coupled to a variety of hospital surfaces. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include two or more pairs of elongated members being configured to be selectively coupled to a circumference, for instance, a hospital bed rail or an IV pole, at a first end and selectively coupled to form a loop at a second end.