Endoscope Sterilization via Periodic Vacuum Venting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilization systems face challenges in effectively sterilizing long and narrow medical devices, such as endoscopes, due to diffusion-restricted spaces, leading to incomplete sterilization and potential contamination risks, and often require lengthy processing times, which can be undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization cabinet with a vacuum source and venting valve, equipped with a touch screen display and processor, performs a sterilization cycle involving controlled pressure changes and sterilant application to ensure thorough sterilization of medical devices, including those with long and narrow lumens, using a method that includes stepwise venting and sealing to enhance sterilant penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sterilization systems are used, then sterilization can be performed on medical devices, but sterilization of long and narrow lumens is incomplete due to diffusion-restricted spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic venting cycles where the chamber pressure is alternately reduced and vented to atmosphere multiple times during the sterilization process. This periodic action creates repeated pressure differentials that drive sterilant vapor into diffusion-restricted spaces and lumens, ensuring complete penetration and sterilization of long narrow channels that would otherwise be inaccessible.
2Reliability
If extended sterilization cycles are used to ensure complete sterilization of diffusion-restricted spaces, then sterilization effectiveness improves, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single extended sterilization cycle, the system implements multiple shorter venting cycles within the overall process. Each venting cycle creates a pressure differential that accelerates sterilant penetration into diffusion-restricted spaces. This periodic approach achieves complete sterilization of long narrow lumens faster than a single prolonged cycle would require.
3Reliability
If pressure changes are applied to enhance sterilant penetration into lumens, then sterilization of diffusion-restricted spaces improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure control functionality into separate, dedicated components: a vacuum source for creating negative pressure and a venting valve for controlled atmospheric venting. This modular approach simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling effective pressure cycling to drive sterilant penetration into diffusion-restricted spaces without requiring complex integrated pressure management.
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 system effectively sterilizes medical devices with long and narrow lumens, ensuring complete sterilization and reducing processing time, thereby minimizing contamination risks and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A sterilization cabinet with a vacuum source and venting valve
Implementation Method 2
Each of these methods may depend to a certain extent on the diffusion rates of the sterilization fluids (e.g., gases) upon or into the medical devices to be sterilized
Data Source
AI summary
A method of sterilizing an article includes receiving the article in a sterilization chamber. The method also includes applying a vacuum to a first pressure less than 100 torr. The method also includes introducing a sterilant into the sterilization chamber. The method also includes maintaining the first pressure in the sterilization chamber for a first period of time. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to a second pressure less than 100 torr. The method also includes maintaining the second pressure. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to a third pressure. The method also includes maintaining the third pressure. The method also includes venting the sterilization chamber to atmospheric pressure. The method further includes between venting and maintaining steps applying a vacuum to a fourth pressure less than 100 torr, introducing additional sterilant, and maintaining the fourth pressure.