Medical Device Cleaning Kit Using Colorant Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for checking the quality of cleaning of medical devices are time-consuming, expensive, and ineffective in detecting residual protein compounds and biofilms, particularly in hospital environments where contamination can lead to serious infections.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising a staining solution and a developing solution, where medical devices are soaked in the staining solution to adsorb colorant onto protein compounds and biofilms, and then in the developing solution to reveal stained areas, allowing for quick and reliable detection of contamination using visible staining, compatible with medical environment requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current sterilisation techniques are used to eliminate protein compounds and organic materials from medical devices, then sterilisation is performed, but the elimination of these contaminants is not effective enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a quality cleaning step before sterilisation to remove protein compounds and organic materials. This preliminary cleaning ensures that the sterilisation process works on already clean surfaces, improving the overall effectiveness of contaminant elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by using specific cleaning conditions with defined temperature ranges (20-50°C), pH ranges (2-12), and contact times (5-60 minutes) to optimize the removal of protein compounds and organic materials, making the cleaning process more effective than conventional methods.
2Measurement precision
If sampling proteins with picking solution and quantifying them in a laboratory is used to detect contamination, then contamination can be quantified, but the process is time-consuming and does not allow location identification of contaminated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical and laboratory-based sampling system with a simple chemical staining system. The staining solution directly visualizes contamination on the device surface through color changes, eliminating the need for sampling, transportation to laboratories, and complex quantification procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes as a visual indicator of contamination. The staining solution contains dyes that change color or produce visible staining when they come into contact with protein compounds and organic materials, allowing immediate identification and location of contaminated areas without time-consuming laboratory analysis.
3Reliability
If techniques are developed to check cleaning quality before and after sterilisation to detect contamination, then cleaning faults can be identified, but the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the staining solution to automatically indicate contamination through color changes. The system is self-indicating and does not require complex equipment or expert interpretation - the contaminated areas simply show different colors, making the detection process simple and intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes to simplify the detection process. Different stains indicate different types of contamination (e.g., yellow for proteins, red for organic materials), providing immediate visual feedback without requiring complex analytical equipment or procedures.
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
Enables rapid, practical, and reliable detection of contamination on multiple medical devices simultaneously, reducing detection time and improving the effectiveness of cleaning processes by identifying areas requiring additional cleaning, thus ensuring safer sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
medical devices are soaked in the staining solution to adsorb colorant onto protein compounds and biofilms
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a kit for checking the quality of cleaning of medical devices in situ comprising a staining solution by soaking comprising a colorant in a dilution phase compatible with the requirements of the medical environment, and a developing solution by soaking comprising said dilution phase.