Female Connector Disinfection Collar With Rotational Visual Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a disinfection device that enhances compliance with disinfection protocols for female medical connectors, particularly needleless connectors, to reduce the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) by ensuring thorough disinfection and providing visual indication of disinfection completion.
Innovation Solution
A disinfection device comprising an absorbent material with a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent, inner and outer housings, an indicator element, and a transparent collar with ribs that rotate to expose a visual indicator, ensuring thorough disinfection and providing a visual confirmation of completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a needleless connector is used to close off the VAD system, then the system can be accessed to administer medication or fluids, but the risk of transmitting catheter related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) increases due to potential bacterial contamination on the connector surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing a pre-packaged disinfection device that contains disinfectant material and instructions ready for use before the connector is accessed. The device is prepared in advance with all necessary components (disinfectant, applicator, indicator) so that proper disinfection can be performed immediately before access, reducing the risk of contamination while maintaining system accessibility.
2Reliability
If disinfection protocols are strictly followed to reduce CRBSI risk, then infection risk decreases, but compliance is low and variation in scrub time, dry time, and number of scrubs occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by including a visual indicator on the device that changes to show when the connector has been properly disinfected. This immediate visual feedback tells the user whether the disinfection protocol has been correctly followed, eliminating uncertainty and variation in scrub time and technique. The feedback mechanism ensures compliance by making the disinfection status objectively visible.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies self-service by being a self-contained unit that guides the user through the entire disinfection process. The pre-packaged nature of the device with integrated instructions and visual indicators allows the user to perform disinfection independently without requiring external guidance or judgment, ensuring consistent compliance with the protocol.
3Reliability
If health care providers are made more diligent in following scrubbing protocols to reduce CRBSI risk, then infection prevention improves, but the diligence is largely uncontrollable and understanding of impact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human diligence and judgment with a mechanical device that enforces proper disinfection through its design. Instead of relying on the provider's understanding and willingness to follow protocols, the device itself structures the process and provides objective verification through visual indicators, substituting human variability with device-controlled consistency.
4Ease of operation
If a disinfection device with visual indicator is implemented to improve compliance, then disinfection completion can be confirmed, but the device structure becomes more complex with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple functions into a single integrated device: the disinfectant delivery system, the applicator mechanism, and the visual indicator are all merged into one cohesive unit. This integration simplifies the overall process despite the multiple internal components, as the user interacts with a single device that performs all functions automatically in sequence.
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 device ensures thorough disinfection of female medical connectors by combining passive and active disinfection methods, enhancing compliance with disinfection protocols, and providing a visual indication of disinfection completion, thereby reducing the risk of CRBSI.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent material having a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent
Implementation Method 2
the collar includes at least one rib element that contacts the indicator element. Rotation of the collar causes the at least one rib element to remove sufficient portions of the indicator element
Data Source
AI summary
A disinfection device for disinfecting a female medical connector. The device includes an inner housing having an absorbent material that includes a disinfectant or antimicrobial agent that receives the connector. The device also includes an outer housing having an outer wall that receives the inner housing wherein the inner housing is rotatable within the outer housing. An indicator is located between the outer wall and a transparent collar that includes at least one rib. The indicator includes a first visual indicator and a second visual indicator concealed by the first visual indicator. The inner housing includes a boss element that extends through the outer wall and indicator and is attached to the collar. Rotation of the collar causes rotation of the absorbent material and causes the rib to remove sufficient portions of the indicator to expose the second visual indicator to provide visual indication that the connector is disinfected.