Oxygen Indicator for Medical Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical containers face challenges such as incompatibility of medical solutions during long-term storage, contamination risks from compounding, and the inability of existing oxygen indicators to withstand heat sterilization and maintain color distinction over time.
Innovation Solution
A flexible multi-chamber container with peel seals and an oxygen indicator comprising indigo carmine, a buffer, microcrystalline cellulose, and a reducing agent, which remains color-distinguishable after autoclaving and prolonged storage, and an oxygen permeable packet to detect oxygen exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing oxygen indicators are used in medical containers, then oxygen detection function is provided, but the indicators cannot withstand heat sterilization and maintain color distinction over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the oxygen indicator system by selecting specific components (indigo carmine as indicator, glucose as reducing agent, pH buffer) and optimizing their concentrations to achieve both heat sterilization resistance and long-term storage stability while maintaining color distinction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite oxygen indicator system combining multiple substances (indigo carmine, glucose, pH buffer, and other stabilizing agents) that work together to provide heat resistance, storage stability, and reliable oxygen detection functionality simultaneously
2Productivity
If multiple medical solutions are stored together in a single container, then storage efficiency is improved, but incompatibility between solutions causes contamination and formulation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage container into multiple separate chambers, each capable of holding different medical solutions independently. This segmentation prevents direct contact between incompatible solutions while maintaining storage efficiency, allowing solutions to be mixed only when needed through controlled interfaces between chambers
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual compounding of medical solutions is performed, then flexibility in formulation is achieved, but time consumption and contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares multiple medical solutions in advance and stores them in separate chambers within the same container. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming manual compounding at the point of use, as solutions are already prepared and simply need to be mixed through controlled interaction between chambers
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 solution allows for safe storage and mixing of medical solutions, reduces contamination risks, and provides a reliable indication of oxygen exposure, ensuring the integrity and safety of medical formulations.
Implementation Method 1
The oxygen indicator comprises: a) greater than 6 and less than 60 g/L of indigo carmine; b) a buffer to adjust the pH to a range of about 9.0 to about 9.75; c) from 150 g/L to 210 g/L of microcrystalline cellulose; d) a reducing agent
Data Source
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AI summary
An oxygen indicator is provided for revealing the presence of oxygen in a container housing a medical formulation. The indicator can be formulated with components deemed safe for use with medical products. A preferred oxygen indicator can withstand heat sterilization and prolonged storage and can provide a distinct and marked color change to indicate oxygen is present. Preferably, the indicator can be manufactured in its oxidized form and reduced upon steam sterilization. Additionally, both the color of the reduced form and the color of the oxidized form should not fade or significantly change during storage. Moreover, once a color change has occurred indicating the presence of oxygen, the oxidized color preferably remains substantially unchanged visually to the observer even after prolonged storage. The oxygen indicator can be housed in a polymeric pouch or packet having a transparent portion for viewing the color of the indicator.