Modular Medical Valve Assembly for Reuse Without Cross-Contamination
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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 cost of single-use disposable devices, with current sterilization methods being imperfect and costly.
Innovation Solution
A modular medical device design incorporating reusable and disposable components, where the reusable body remains external to the treatment site and the disposable body is disassembled post-procedure, minimizing contamination risk and reducing the need for extensive sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reusable medical devices are used across multiple patients, then cost is reduced and resource utilization is improved, but cross-contamination risk and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device is divided into two distinct segments: a reusable body portion that can be sterilized and reused, and a disposable shaft portion that is discarded after single use. This segmentation allows the reusable components to be thoroughly sterilized while the disposable components eliminate cross-contamination risk, thus resolving the contradiction between device reuse and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft portion of the device is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for extensive sterilization processes. This allows the reusable body to be used across multiple patients without contamination risk, as the disposable shaft is replaced with each new patient, thus resolving the contradiction between reuse and contamination prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If disposable medical devices are used for single patient treatment, then cross-contamination risk is eliminated, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into reusable and disposable portions, allowing only the necessary shaft component to be discarded after single use, while the expensive body portion with complex mechanisms (pump, reservoir, control systems) is reused. This segmentation reduces waste and cost compared to completely disposable devices, while still eliminating cross-contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable shaft is discarded after use, while the reusable body is recovered, sterilized, and prepared for the next patient. This selective discarding and recovery approach eliminates contamination risk while maximizing resource utilization and minimizing cost, resolving the contradiction between safety and cost efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If extensive sterilization procedures are applied to reusable devices, then cross-contamination risk is reduced, but time consumption and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft portion is designed as a disposable component that requires no sterilization process. This eliminates time-consuming sterilization steps for the shaft while the reusable body undergoes standard sterilization procedures only once between uses, significantly reducing overall time consumption and processing complexity while maintaining contamination prevention.
4Adaptability or versatility
If modular design with attachment and detachment mechanisms is implemented, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector mechanism is designed with universal features that allow the reusable body to work with multiple different disposable shaft configurations. This multi-functionality approach simplifies the connector design while maintaining high adaptability, as the same connector interface can accommodate various shaft types without increasing 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
This approach reduces the risk of cross-contamination and lowers costs by allowing reusable components to be safely reused while ensuring disposable parts are discarded after a single use, maintaining hygiene and economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a movable valve body being biased to a first position by a biasing mechanism positioned against the movable valve body
Implementation Method 2
The second actuation member is configured to close an opening of at least one of the one or more of channels by at least partially deforming the valve at the opening
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.