Modular Medical Device Segmentation for Cross-Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in balancing the risk of cross-contamination between patients due to reuse and the high costs associated with single-use disposable devices.
Innovation Solution
A modular medical device design incorporating reusable and disposable components, where the reusable body is external to the treatment site and the disposable body is disposed after use, minimizing contamination risk and reducing sterilization costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If reusable medical devices are used across multiple procedures, then costs are reduced, but cross-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device is divided into two distinct segments: a reusable body portion and a disposable component portion. The reusable body can be sterilized and reused across multiple procedures, while the disposable component is discarded after a single use, eliminating cross-contamination risk at the point of patient contact while maintaining cost efficiency through reusable core components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable medical devices are used for single use, then cross-contamination risk is minimized, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into disposable and reusable portions, allowing only the necessary component that contacts the patient (the component portion) to be disposable, while the more expensive body portion is reusable. This reduces overall costs compared to completely disposable devices while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable component is extracted as a separate attachable portion from the reusable body. This allows the disposable element to be replaced after each use while retaining the reusable body, thereby reducing the frequency of complete device replacement and lowering overall costs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If reusable medical devices undergo extensive sterilization procedures, then contamination risk is reduced, but time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable portions, the sterilization burden is reduced to only the reusable body portion, which undergoes standard sterilization protocols. The disposable component eliminates the need for sterilization after each use, significantly reducing overall sterilization time and procedural complexity.
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 design reduces the risk of cross-contamination and lowers overall costs by allowing reusable components to be safely reused while ensuring disposable parts are discarded after a single use, maintaining hygiene and efficiency in medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing mechanism positioned against the movable valve body. The second actuation member is configured to compress the biasing mechanism and move the movable valve to a second position
Implementation Method 2
The first connector includes a grasper, and the second connector includes a pair of pins defining a gap sized to receive the grasper between the pair of pins. The grasper is configured to engage the pair of pins by extending through the gap to couple the first actuation member to the actuation wire
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device that includes a first body including a first actuation member including a first connector and a second actuation member. The medical device includes a second body for attachment to, and detachment from, the first body. The second body including an actuation wire, a second connector at a proximal end of the actuation wire, and a valve having one or more channels for receiving a material. Attachment of the first body with the second body results in the first connector engaging the second connector, such that movement of the first actuation member causes a corresponding movement of the actuation wire. Moving the second actuation member into the second body to interact with the valve is configured to selectively direct the material through the one or more channels.