Medical Device Kit Segmentation by Shelf Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing practice of packaging multiple medical devices together for a specific medical intervention leads to the premature discard of devices due to the shortest shelf life setting the expiry date for all devices in the package, resulting in wastage and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A kit of medical devices is organized into separate packages based on the individual shelf life of each device, ensuring that each package contains medical devices with the same shelf life, thereby extending the usable period of each device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If multiple medical devices with different shelf lives are packaged together in one package, then the preparation efficiency is improved and time is saved, but the devices with longer shelf life must be discarded early due to the shortest shelf life setting the package expiry date
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single package into multiple sub-packages, each containing medical devices with similar shelf lives. This segmentation allows each sub-package to have its own expiry date based on the actual shelf life of its contents, preventing the waste of devices with longer shelf lives while maintaining the efficiency benefits of pre-packaging.
2Reliability
If all medical devices in a package are discarded after the shortest shelf life expires, then safety is ensured, but fully functioning devices are discarded too early
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting devices into sub-packages based on shelf life, each sub-package can be used until its specific expiry date. This maintains safety by ensuring devices are used within their validated shelf life while avoiding the waste of fully functioning devices that would otherwise be discarded due to the shortest shelf life constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the expiry date parameter from a single package-level date to multiple sub-package-specific dates. This allows each sub-package to have an expiry date that reflects the actual shelf life of its contents, enabling safer and more efficient use of medical devices with different shelf lives.
3Productivity
If medical devices are pre-packaged together, then efficiency is improved and considerable time is saved, but the cost increases due to premature discarding of devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the package into sub-packages based on shelf life, allowing each device or group of devices to be used until its actual expiry date. This eliminates the cost of prematurely discarding fully functioning devices while maintaining the efficiency benefits of pre-packaging, as medical personnel still receive ready-to-use packages without needing to search for individual devices.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to a kit of medical devices (1) for a medical intervention, wherein the kit (1) comprises at least a first package (2) comprising one or more medical devices, and a second package (3) comprising one or more medical devices; the medical device(s) of the at least first (2) and second (3) packages being configured for use with the medical intervention, wherein the individual medical device(s) comprised in the first package (2) have a first shelf life which is substantially the same for each component in the first package (2); the individual medical device(s) of the second package (3) having a second shelf life which is substantially the same for each component in the second package (3), and wherein the first shelf life is different from the second shelf life. The present disclosure also relates to a method for providing a kit of medical devices.