Medical Instrument Container With Modular Trays and Wash-Through Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instrument containers are structurally complex, expensive, lack versatility, and inefficient in cleaning, with metal components requiring costly production processes and support trays inadequate for diverse operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A container with a polymeric frame and metal containment panels, featuring modular instrument support trays and clippers, allows efficient cleaning and sterilization, reducing production costs and enhancing adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal components are used in the container structure, then strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing cost and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into distinct components: a polymeric body and separate metal reinforcement elements. The metal components are used only where structurally necessary (connection portions, reinforcement areas) rather than throughout the entire structure, reducing material costs and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining strength where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The container combines polymeric material for the main body with metal material for reinforcement and connection elements. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both materials: the polymer provides corrosion resistance and ease of molding, while the metal provides structural strength and durability in critical areas.
2Reliability
If complex metal components are used for connection portions, then structural reliability is improved, but production cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portions are separated as distinct metal reinforcement elements rather than integrated into a single complex metal structure. These elements can be independently manufactured and then assembled to the polymeric body, simplifying production while ensuring reliable connections where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal reinforcement elements are combined with the polymeric body through assembly processes (such as insertion, screwing, or welding) rather than requiring complex integrated molding. This merging of materials and processes simplifies manufacturing while maintaining structural reliability.
3Reliability
If support trays are solidly constrained to the container, then instrument retention is improved, but versatility and adaptability to different operating conditions decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The support trays are designed with movable and adjustable characteristics rather than being permanently fixed. They can be positioned, removed, or reconfigured within the container to adapt to different instrument sets and operating conditions, providing both retention during washing and flexibility for different uses.
Solution Approach 2:
The support trays are designed to serve multiple functions: they can be used to hold different types of instruments, adjusted to different positions, and configured for various washing and sterilization processes. This multi-functionality allows a single container system to adapt to diverse operating conditions while maintaining reliable instrument retention.
Data Source
AI summary
Container (1) and kit for washing and/or disinfecting and/or sterilising medical instruments comprising a frame (10), made of a polymeric material and defining a containment volume (V) and a plurality of containment panels (20), made of a metal material, constrained or constrainable to the frame (10) and defining a bottom wall (21), an upper wall (22) and a plurality of side walls (23, 24, 25, 26) of the container (1) so as to delimit the containment volume (V). Furthermore, the containment panels (20) have a plurality of holes suitable for the passage of a washing fluid. Not least, the containment panels (20) have a planar shape.