Needleless Connector Disinfection Device with Automated Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disinfecting needleless connectors in IV administration sets are inconsistent and unmonitored, leading to potential bacterial growth and infection due to variations in disinfection duration and pressure applied by clinicians.
Innovation Solution
A disinfection device with monitoring and feedback circuitry that ensures proper contact time and pressure between the needleless connector and a cleaning head, featuring a motor, pressure-sensitive switch, and status indicator to communicate disinfection status, and a method for tracking disinfection events and storing information in electronic medical records.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual scrubbing using a disinfection swab or pad is used, then the disinfection process is simple and quick, but the disinfection is inconsistent and unmonitored leading to potential infection
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors and tracks disinfection parameters (contact time, pressure, temperature) without requiring manual intervention or observation by the clinician. The processor autonomously determines whether proper disinfection has occurred based on sensor data, eliminating the need for human judgment while ensuring consistent results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor disinfection parameters and provide feedback to the processor. This feedback loop allows the system to verify that minimum thresholds for contact time, pressure, and temperature have been met, ensuring reliable and consistent disinfection outcomes.
2Device complexity
If manual scrubbing methods are used, then the equipment is simple, but the process varies greatly from clinician to clinician in terms of duration and contact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical scrubbing with an automated monitoring system that uses sensors to detect and record contact time, pressure, and temperature. This substitution eliminates the variability introduced by different clinicians while maintaining ease of use through automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes and monitors specific parameter thresholds (minimum contact time, minimum pressure, minimum temperature) that must be achieved for proper disinfection. By focusing on these critical parameters, the system ensures consistent disinfection outcomes regardless of which clinician performs the procedure.
3Loss of time
If manual disinfection methods are used, then the process is fast and requires no additional equipment, but the methods are untraceable and lack monitoring capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary monitoring layer between the manual scrubbing action and the disinfection outcome. Sensors act as intermediaries that automatically detect and record disinfection parameters, while the processor serves as an intermediary that analyzes the data and determines compliance with disinfection standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback through status indicators that communicate whether proper disinfection has been achieved. This feedback mechanism maintains the speed of manual disinfection while adding traceability and monitoring capabilities through automatic data collection and analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method for disinfecting a needleless connector, the device including a housing comprising a hub rotationally coupled to a motor, the motor being operably connected to a power source, the hub further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a cleaning head, wherein the device is configured to detect achievement of one or more minimum thresholds which are recommended to achieve proper disinfection of the needleless connector. Various devices and methods are further provided to permit tracking and reporting of disinfection events.