Gusseted Endoscope Pre-Clean Pouch for Spill-Free Detergent Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope cleaning kits require significant labor to prepare and are prone to detergent spills due to their flat configuration and large openings, making it difficult to suction all detergent without tilting, which can be challenging for a single person.
Innovation Solution
A sealed, flexible pouch with a gusseted bottom and pre-diluted enzymatic detergent, along with an absorbent pad, that stands upright and includes weakened lines or a small hole for easy access and reduced spillage, facilitating efficient suctioning without tilting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a shallow flat tray is used to hold enzymatic detergent, then the kit is simple and easy to manufacture, but it is easy to spill detergent and difficult to suction all detergent without tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by transforming the flat tray into a deep pouch with rounded contours. The pouch has a curved bottom and tapered sides that narrow toward the top, creating a bowl-shaped container that prevents spills and facilitates complete suction of detergent without tilting, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through sealed flexible material construction
2Ease of operation
If a large opening is provided in the tray for accessing detergent, then it is easy to access the detergent, but it increases the risk of spilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing a small opening specifically at the top of the pouch where the detergent is accessed for suction. This localized opening design allows sufficient access for the suction device while the rest of the pouch remains sealed and contained, preventing spills during the cleaning operation
3Loss of substance
If the tray is tilted to suction all enzymatic detergent, then complete suction is achieved, but it becomes difficult for a single person to handle the endoscope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by designing the pouch with a tapered shape that narrows toward the top opening. This geometric configuration allows gravity to naturally guide the detergent toward the small top opening during suction, enabling complete extraction without tilting the container, thus maintaining single-person operability while achieving complete detergent removal
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 solution reduces labor required for preparation and minimizes detergent spills, ensuring all detergent is suctioned efficiently, even by a single person, with a compact opening design.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent pad adapted to absorb a portion of the detergent
Implementation Method 2
suctioning up a relatively small amount of the enzymatic detergent through the endoscope in order to clear debris from the interior of the endoscope channel
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope pre-cleaning kit has a sealed, flexible pouch having front and back sidewall panels and a bottom gusset panel. The sidewall panels are superimposed over one another and sealed together proximate to their top and side peripheral edges to define a top seal and two opposing side seals. The sidewall panels are sealed to the bottom gusset panel proximate to their bottom peripheral edges to define a gusseted bottom portion such that the pouch is adapted to stand upright. The kit also includes a pre-diluted detergent contained within the pouch, and an absorbent pad adapted to absorb a portion of the detergent. The pouch includes a portion adapted to be opened in order to access the detergent.