Mobile Sterilization Cabinet With Integrated Tray Transfer and Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical tray sterilization methods require expensive industrial autoclaves, protective wraps, and chemical indicators, leading to high capital and operational costs, and potential delays in sterilization, which can be detrimental in surgical settings.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sterilization apparatus with a cabinet, removable wheels, and an integrated transfer and storage system 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 reliability is improved, but capital cost and operational cost 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 perform sterilization independently, eliminating the need for separate expensive autoclave equipment while maintaining sterilization reliability through validated sterilization 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 and also perform sterilization of these trays within its integrated chamber, combining multiple functions into a single 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 are sealed before the sterilization process begins, creating a closed environment that protects the trays from contamination throughout the entire sterilization cycle. This preliminary sealing action eliminates the need for additional protective wraps during the process, reducing both time and complexity while maintaining protection.
3Measurement precision
If chemical indicators are used for sterilization verification, then sterilization status detection is improved, but cost and inspection time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/chemical indicator systems with an electronic monitoring and verification system. The control system tracks sterilization parameters (temperature, pressure, time) and automatically verifies successful completion, eliminating the need for separate chemical indicators and manual inspection processes, thereby reducing cost and time while maintaining detection precision.
4Stability of the object's composition
If trays are stored separately and transported individually, then storage organization is improved, but storage efficiency and mobility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surgical trays into a single integrated cabinet unit that can be stored and transported together. The cabinet provides organized storage for multiple trays while maintaining their individual identities through separate compartments, and enables efficient mobility by allowing the entire set to be moved as one unit rather than individually, thereby improving both storage efficiency and productivity.
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 by minimizing sterilization delays, and improves storage efficiency through a compact, easily transportable system.
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.