Grooved Shaft Sterilization for Laparoscopic Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for sterilizing laparoscopic instruments, such as pasteurization and chemical methods, are ineffective for heat-sensitive materials and inefficient due to the slow penetration of sterilants like ethylene oxide, which can be costly and toxic, especially in large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus and method involve a shaft with grooves and a shrink wrap coating that facilitates the passage of sterilants, allowing for faster and more effective sterilization by providing additional paths for the sterilant to reach internal components, using ethylene oxide as the sterilant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional chemical sterilization methods (chamber methods) are used to sterilize laparoscopic instruments, then sterilization effectiveness is achieved, but production time increases and cost increases due to large amounts of sterilant being released into a large space
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented with multiple grooves (e.g., four grooves disposed at 90-degree intervals) that divide the sterilant flow path into multiple parallel channels, allowing simultaneous sterilization of different regions and reducing overall sterilization time
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves act as intermediary pathways that facilitate the transport of sterilant from the external environment to internal components of the instrument, enabling efficient penetration without requiring large chamber volumes
2Reliability
If traditional chemical sterilization methods (chamber methods) are used to sterilize laparoscopic instruments, then sterilization effectiveness is achieved, but cost increases due to large amounts of toxic sterilant being released into a large space
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple grooves segment the sterilant distribution system, creating focused pathways that deliver sterilant directly to target areas rather than flooding a large chamber, thereby reducing the total volume of sterilant required
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves are strategically positioned and dimensioned (e.g., 0.002 inches deep and 0.004 inches wide) to provide localized sterilant delivery exactly where needed on the shaft and internal components, avoiding waste in non-critical areas
3Reliability
If pasteurization is used to sterilize laparoscopic instruments, then sterilization is achieved for some instruments, but heat-sensitive materials on or attached to the instrument are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the thermal pasteurization process with a chemical sterilization method using ethylene oxide gas delivered through grooves, eliminating thermal exposure while achieving effective sterilization of heat-sensitive instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves serve as conduits for delivering chemical sterilant to internal components, enabling sterilization of heat-sensitive materials that cannot withstand pasteurization temperatures
4Productivity
If micro-dose sterilization methods are used to sterilize laparoscopic instruments, then cost and production time are reduced, but the method is only suitable when a small amount of instruments need to be sterilized
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple grooves create parallel sterilant flow paths that can handle increased instrument throughput, allowing the system to scale from small batches to large-scale production by simply extending the sterilant delivery network
Solution Approach 2:
The grooved shaft design provides a universal sterilization interface that works effectively for individual instruments and can be adapted for batch processing, making the method versatile across different production volumes
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
This solution enables faster and more efficient sterilization of laparoscopic instruments, reducing the time required for sterilization and minimizing damage to heat-sensitive materials, while also reducing the amount of sterilant needed and associated costs.
Implementation Method 1
The shaft includes one or more grooves defined therein which extends at least partially the length thereof... The one or more grooves provide a path for a sterilant
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for use in sterilizing a surgical instrument is provided. The apparatus includes a surgical instrument that includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft includes one or more grooves defined therein that extends at least partially along the length thereof. The one or more grooves is configured to allow a sterilant passage therethrough. The apparatus also includes a jacket that encloses the shaft and allows the sterilant to travel along the one or more grooves.