Two-Part Instrument Cleaning Kit for Stable Enzyme Disinfection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleaning agents for medical and surgical instruments, particularly those containing alkaline active chlorine, pose hazards to personnel, are difficult to handle, and result in environmental contamination, while enzyme-based cleaners have stability issues during storage.

Innovation Solution

A kit comprising a high concentration alkanolamine component and an enzyme component, divided into two parts for efficient cleaning and disinfection, allowing for reduced volumes of active ingredients and safer handling, with the alkanolamine concentration between 15-30% and enzyme concentration between 0.05-1 Anson units per g, effectively breaking down blood proteins without the need for large storage volumes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alkaline-active chlorine-containing cleaners are used to remove blood residues, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but personnel safety and environmental compatibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidpersonnel safety and environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces active chlorine with alternative active ingredients such as peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, or ozone, which have different chemical properties. These alternatives maintain oxidizing capability for effective cleaning while being less hazardous to personnel and the environment, thus changing the chemical parameters of the cleaning agent

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts potentially harmful substances into beneficial ones by selecting disinfectants that are effective against contaminants but have reduced toxicity and environmental impact. For example, peracetic acid decomposes into acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which are much less harmful than active chlorine residues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If enzyme-containing cleaning agents are used to break down blood proteins, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but storage stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenzyme activity during storage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the enzyme component from the main cleaning solution, storing enzymes in a concentrated form or in separate compartments. This segmentation allows the cleaning solution to be stored without enzymes (maintaining stability) while enabling enzyme addition only when needed for cleaning, thus preserving both storage stability and cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares the cleaning solution without enzymes in advance for stable storage, and adds the necessary enzymatic activity only when the cleaning process is initiated. This preliminary preparation allows the base solution to be stored stably while ensuring enzyme activity is present when needed for effective cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If large volumes of cleaning agents are stored in barrels, then sufficient operating time is ensured, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating timeVSAvoidsupply system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses concentrated cleaning agent formulations that can be stored in compact containers and then diluted in-situ within the cleaning device. This nesting approach allows small volumes of concentrated agent to replace large volumes of diluted solution, reducing storage space and supply system complexity while maintaining sufficient operating time through concentration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 effective cleaning and disinfection with minimal active ingredient usage, reducing environmental impact and personnel hazards, while maintaining effectiveness against tough contaminants like blood residues, and allowing for easy storage and transportation of smaller volumes.

Implementation Method 1

The second component (also called enzyme component) contains at least one enzyme, preferably a proteolytic enzyme. The amount of these proteolytic enzymes is preferably between 0.05 and 1 Anson units per g of component.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

The first component (also called alkali component) contains relatively high concentrations of alkanolamine and complexing agents.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComplexation:

Data Source

PatentEP3063327B1Kit and method for cleaning and disinfecting medical instruments and apparatuses

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 CHEM FAB DR WEIGERT

AI summary

The invention relates to a kit for mechanically cleaning and/or disinfecting medical and/or surgical instruments and/or devices, said kit containing a first component, which contains at least 15 wt.% alkanolamine and at least 10 wt.% complexing agent, and a second component containing at least one enzyme. Said kit enables surgical and medical instruments to be cleaned and disinfected in an effective manner with very low quantities.