Endoscope Storage Tray with Barrier Sheet for Contamination Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for storing and transporting medical endoscopes are inadequate in protecting against accidental damage, contamination, and cross-contamination, and lack effective traceability of usage records.

Innovation Solution

A kit comprising a rigid support tray with guide walls and adjustable support members, combined with a flexible barrier sheet featuring a liner and cover portion, which includes retaining holes and distinguishing indicia for indicating the state of the endoscope, to ensure safe transport and storage while maintaining cleanliness and traceability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If endoscopes are transported without specialized protective equipment, then transportation simplicity is maintained, but protection against contamination and damage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against contamination and damageVSAvoidtransportation equipment structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is divided into distinct functional components: a rigid support tray for structural protection, a flexible barrier sheet for contamination prevention, and a cover for additional protection. Each component addresses specific protection needs, allowing the system to provide comprehensive protection while maintaining modular simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible barrier sheet acts as an intermediary between the endoscope and the external environment, providing a removable protective layer that prevents direct contact with contaminants while allowing easy access to the endoscope when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If barrier means are added to protect against contamination, then contamination protection is improved, but ease of operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidaccess to endoscope

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible barrier sheet is designed as a disposable component that can be quickly removed and discarded after use. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization procedures, maintaining ease of operation while providing reliable contamination protection throughout the transport process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of stationary object

If stacking arrangement is optimized for space efficiency, then storage density is improved, but protection against cross-contamination is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidcross-contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible barrier sheet conformally covers the endoscope and extends beyond its boundaries, creating a continuous protective envelope that prevents cross-contamination even when trays are stacked in space-efficient arrangements. The flexibility allows it to adapt to the endoscope shape while maintaining barrier integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Loss of information

If traceability features are added to track endoscope usage, then record-keeping accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusage record accuracyVSAvoidtracking system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible barrier sheet incorporates color-coded zones or indicators that change or reveal different information based on usage state. This simple visual system provides accurate traceability of endoscope usage without requiring complex electronic tracking systems, maintaining ease of use while preventing information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS10405938B2Storage kit and assembly

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 MEDITECH ENDOSCOPY

AI summary

The present invention relates to a kit and an assembly for the storage and transportation of medical equipment including endoscopes, as well as a method for storing and transporting endoscopes. In particular, the present invention relates to a support tray (1) for endoscopes, a barrier sheet (264, 764, 864, 967 and 978) and a kit for the transportation of endoscopes comprising a support tray and barrier sheet. A kit for the transportation and storage of an endoscope comprises a rigid support tray and barrier means. The rigid support tray comprises a base plate (2, 102, 902) having opposing first and second sides; a plurality of guide walls (4, 104, 904) projecting from the first side of the base plate, the guide walls arranged to define areas for placement of parts of said endoscope on the first side of the base plate; a plurality of support members (10, 110, 910) extending from the second side of the base plate, the support members being arranged such that when two trays are stacked on top of each other, the arrangement of the support members is such that, in a first orientation the two base plates are separated by a first distance and in a second orientation the two base plates are separated by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and retaining members (931) extending from an edge region of the support tray. The barrier means comprises a flexible sheet including a liner portion (276, 767, 967) for providing, in use, a barrier layer between the support tray and said endoscope, the flexible sheet including retaining means for engagement with the retaining members (941, 945) of the support tray to retain the sheet in contact with the tray.