Mobile Sterilization Cabinet With Integrated Tray Transfer and Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical tray sterilization methods require expensive industrial autoclaves, protective wraps, and chemical indicators, leading to high costs and potential delays, while existing mobile sterilization apparatuses lack efficient transport and storage solutions.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sterilization cabinet with removable wheels, integrated transfer and storage systems, and a compact design that uses a sterilization agent within the cabinet, eliminating the need for protective wraps and industrial autoclaves, and includes RF location software for verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional industrial autoclaves are used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is ensured, but capital costs and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sterilization function from the complex industrial autoclave system and implements it within the surgical tray cabinet itself. The cabinet includes an integrated sterilization chamber and control system that can sterilize trays in place, eliminating the need for separate expensive autoclave equipment while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through controlled temperature and humidity cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical tray cabinet is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both storage and sterilization equipment. The cabinet can store surgical trays at controlled temperatures and also perform sterilization cycles, combining multiple functions into one device to reduce overall system complexity and cost.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If protective wraps are used during sterilization, then tray protection is improved, but sterilization time and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet doors and trays are designed with built-in protective features and sealing mechanisms that are prepared in advance. The doors have gaskets and sealing systems pre-configured to protect trays during sterilization, eliminating the need for additional protective wraps and reducing sterilization time.
3Measurement precision
If chemical indicators are used for sterilization verification, then sterilization status can be confirmed, but inspection time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet includes an integrated control system with sensors and indicators that provide real-time feedback on sterilization status. The system monitors temperature, humidity, and cycle completion, and provides visual or digital indicators when sterilization is successful, eliminating the need for manual chemical indicator inspection and reducing verification time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If surgical trays are stored separately from sterilization equipment, then storage flexibility is improved, but transport efficiency and sterilization workflow decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines storage and sterilization functions into a single integrated cabinet system. Surgical trays are stored on shelves within the cabinet, which also serves as the sterilization chamber. This merging of functions improves workflow efficiency by eliminating the need to transport trays between separate storage and sterilization locations, while the cabinet design maintains storage flexibility through adjustable shelves and door configurations.
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
Reduces capital and operational costs, enhances patient care, and improves sterilization efficiency by integrating transport and storage, allowing for easy movement and verification of sterilization status without the need for industrial autoclaves.
Implementation Method 1
an effective quantity of a sterilization agent is introduced into the cabinet via one or more input couplers attached to the cabinet for a time sufficient to carry out the sterilization of the interior of the cabinet and any contents thereof
Implementation Method 2
The sterilization agent may then be removed from the cabinet via one or more vacuum outlet couplers
Data Source
AI summary
An improved mobile apparatus for sterilizing surgical trays serves as a self-contained autoclave, allowing sterilization of the interior of the apparatus and its contents. A method of sterilization using the apparatus is presented as well. By means of a dedicated transfer and storage system, the apparatus, integrable with respect to a transfer cart and a lift device, may be moved easily between a location of sterilization, a storage area, and an operating room, and more than one such apparatus may be stacked vertically for storage to enhance storage efficiency.