Modular Surgical Fluid Control Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical fluid control systems face challenges in sterilization due to electronic components, leading to potential contamination over multiple use cycles.
Innovation Solution
A modular surgical fluid control system featuring a foot pedal apparatus and a fluid flow controller with adjustable components, allowing for easy sterilization and ensuring that only sterile components contact the fluid, including a fluid flow controller with a first and second body portion and a fluid transfer device that adjusts its cross-sectional area in response to a force applied by the foot pedal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electronic components are used for fluid flow control, then fluid flow control precision is improved, but sterilization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a reusable electronic control unit and a disposable sterile fluid path component. The electronic components remain outside the sterile field, while the fluid path (including catheter, connectors, and fluid transfer device) is pre-sterilized and disposed of after single use, eliminating sterilization challenges for electronic parts while maintaining precise electronic flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
Electronic components are extracted from the sterile field and placed in a separate reusable control unit. Only the essential fluid path components that require sterility are disposed of after single use, while the electronic control mechanism is reused across multiple procedures without sterilization requirements.
2Measurement precision
If electronic components are used for fluid flow control, then fluid flow control precision is improved, but contamination risk increases over multiple use cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid path components (catheter, connectors, fluid transfer device) are designed as disposable single-use items that are pre-sterilized and discarded after one procedure. This eliminates the accumulation of contamination risk over multiple use cycles while preserving the precision benefits of electronic flow control through the reusable control unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates reusable electronic control components from disposable sterile fluid path components. This segmentation allows the electronic components to be reused for precise control while the disposable components ensure sterility for each new procedure, preventing contamination risk accumulation.
3Ease of manufacture
If modular design with disposable components is used, then sterilization ease is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable fluid path components are designed to connect to and integrate with the reusable electronic control unit, forming a complete functional system. This merging approach simplifies the overall system by combining the benefits of disposable sterility with reusable electronic precision without requiring multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable electronic control unit is designed with universal interfaces and adapters that work with various disposable fluid path configurations. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by allowing a single reusable unit to serve multiple procedures and patient cases through compatibility with different disposable components.
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 modular design ensures that the components directly contacting the fluid are kept sterile for each use cycle, reducing the risk of contamination and improving the overall sterilization process.
Implementation Method 1
The controller engagement member is configured to be adjusted from a third distance from the engagement point to a fourth distance closer to the engagement point than the third distance based on a force applied by the pedal engagement member to the second body portion
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid flow controller includes a first body portion defining a receiving surface, a second body portion, and a fluid transfer device. The second body portion includes a controller engagement member, and is configured to couple to the first body portion such that the controller engagement member faces and is spaced from an engagement point of the receiving surface. The controller engagement member is configured to be adjusted from a first distance to a second distance closer to the engagement point than the first distance based on a force applied by a foot pedal apparatus. The fluid transfer device defines a flow channel configured to be adjusted from defining a first cross sectional area to a second, lesser cross sectional area while the controller engagement member is in contact with the first fluid transfer device and adjusted towards the second distance in response to the applied force.