Medical Implement Cleaning Device With Movable Septum
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Solution Overview
Problem
In medical settings, improper cleaning of medical implements leads to nosocomial infections due to inadequate training and oversight, with traditional alcohol swabs often being overlooked or poorly executed, resulting in potential transmission of pathogens to patients.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a housing containing a cleaning agent and a movable septum that maintains the agent within the housing until contact with the medical implement, using a flexible flange and holes to ensure effective application of the cleaning agent to the site, eliminating technique-related issues and providing an unequivocal indicator of cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional alcohol swabs are used for cleaning medical implements, then the cleaning process is simple and inexpensive, but the cleaning effectiveness is unreliable due to improper execution by healthcare providers
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is designed to automatically apply the cleaning agent to the medical implement site when the implement is inserted into the housing. The movable septum self-actuates based on the insertion motion, eliminating the need for manual swabbing by healthcare providers while ensuring consistent and reliable cleaning application.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning agent is pre-loaded into the housing and positioned behind the movable septum before use. The entire cleaning mechanism is prepared in advance, with the agent ready for immediate automatic application upon insertion of the medical implement, ensuring no step is overlooked.
2Reliability
If a movable septum is used to maintain the cleaning agent within the housing, then the cleaning agent is protected from contamination, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable septum is constructed as a flexible membrane that can be pushed inward by the medical implement during insertion. This flexible barrier effectively contains the cleaning agent behind it while allowing for simple actuation, maintaining containment reliability without requiring complex mechanical structures.
3Extent of automation
If the movable septum is pushed into the housing by the medical implement, then automatic application of cleaning agent is achieved, but the force required for insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable septum is designed as a dynamic component that moves in response to the insertion force of the medical implement. The septum's position changes from a contained state to an actuated state based on the applied force, enabling automatic cleaning agent application while accommodating variations in insertion force through its flexible, responsive design.
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 device ensures thorough cleaning of medical implement sites by automatically applying a cleaning agent, reducing the risk of nosocomial infections by providing a reliable and efficient method that does not rely on proper execution by healthcare providers.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible flange can be disposed along an outer edge of the movable septum and can be configured to create an interference fit between the movable septum and the housing.
Implementation Method 2
The one or more holes can have one or more dimensions that allow a surface tension of the cleaning agent to stay below the movable septum when the cleaning agent is in a low pressure state.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning device for a medical implement is disclosed. The cleaning device includes a housing, a cleaning agent within the housing, and a movable septum in the housing that maintains the cleaning agent within the housing until receipt by the housing of the site of the medical implement. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.