Medical Filter Chamber Layout for Fast Steam Sterilization and Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization methods for medical filters, particularly dialyzers, face challenges in efficiently and quickly drying hydrophilic hollow fibers after superheated steam sterilization, which is time-consuming and difficult.
Innovation Solution
A device with a divided pressure chamber into two compartments allows for controlled steam and air flow to sterilize and dry medical filters by creating a pressure gradient, using superheated steam to displace air and warm air to absorb moisture, with adjustable partitions and force application to manage expansion, and optional radiation for further drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If superheated steam sterilization is used for medical filters, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but drying time increases and becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure chamber is divided into a first chamber for steam sterilization and a second chamber for drying, allowing simultaneous independent operation of sterilization and drying processes. The filter spans both chambers with openings positioned to allow steam flow through the filter structure, enabling the filter to be sterilized in the first chamber while moisture is removed in the second chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure is used as a control parameter to manage the phase and flow of steam and air. By pressurizing the first chamber with steam and maintaining pressure differential between chambers, the system controls steam penetration for sterilization and subsequent air flow for drying. Pressure adjustment enables transition from sterilization mode to drying mode within the same system.
2Reliability
If traditional autoclave sterilization is used, then sterilization is achieved, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization and drying functions are segmented into separate chambers that operate simultaneously. While traditional autoclaves sequence these operations (sterilization then drying), this device performs both processes in parallel, with the filter serving as the interface between chambers. This eliminates the sequential waiting time inherent in traditional methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by having steam continuously flow through the filter during sterilization, and then continuously flowing air through the filter during drying. The pressure differential is maintained throughout the process, ensuring uninterrupted steam penetration and subsequent moisture removal, eliminating idle periods between sterilization and drying phases.
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
The method achieves rapid and effective sterilization and drying of medical filters, reducing the process time to less than half an hour, preserving the integrity of hollow fibers and eliminating the need for post-sterilization wrapping.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second chambers can be pressurized to between 0 and 10 bar... superheated steam can also be introduced into the first chamber through the inlet for steam sterilization. This generates an overpressure in the first chamber. A pressure gradient is created between the first chamber and the second chamber.
Implementation Method 2
In these processes, radiation, heat and toxicity are the effects that kill microorganisms... When sterilizing dialyzers in autoclaves, it has proved disadvantageous that drying the hydrophilic hollow fibers after hot steam sterilization is difficult and time-consuming.
Implementation Method 3
The filter can be dried by evacuating the two chambers several times simultaneously and then filling them with dry air. Particularly advantageously, this allows the dialyzer to be dried in less than half an hour... The moisture is absorbed by the warm air in the process.
Implementation Method 4
The moisture is absorbed by the warm air in the process.
Implementation Method 5
Residual air can be evacuated through the inlet of the chambers... The filter can be dried by evacuating the two chambers several times simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A device for sterilizing and drying filters, in particular medical filters such as dialyzers, includes a pressure chamber with at least one inlet and one outlet and a holder for at least one filter, as well as a method that sterilizes and dries filters. The pressure chamber is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the filter is insertable into the holder such that the inlet port(s) of the filter are arranged in the first chamber and the outlet port(s) of the filter are arranged in the second chamber.