Patient cleansing mitt

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing patient cleansing methods for surgical procedures are cumbersome, require multiple mitts, and pose a high risk of contamination due to the need for manual handling and storage of mitts, leading to prolonged preparation times and increased infection risk.

Innovation Solution

A mitt design with a hand insertion area in the lower portion, allowing for sterile donning and use within a package, featuring a sealed first and second layer with cut lines forming a flap for hand insertion, facilitating single-handed application and reducing contamination risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple mitts are used for different body parts, then the patient can be thoroughly cleansed, but the preparation time and number of steps increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing completenessVSAvoidpreparation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mitt is divided into multiple sealed compartments within a single glove structure, with each compartment containing a separate washing mitt for different body parts (face, arms, legs, etc.). This allows the user to access different mitts without removing or contaminating others, enabling thorough cleansing of all body parts while maintaining a single packaged unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple washing mitts that would traditionally be separate items are merged into a single packaged glove structure. Each compartment is sealed independently, allowing multiple functions (cleansing different body parts) to be integrated into one product, reducing the number of separate items needed and simplifying the preparation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If mitts are stored folded in a package, then they are compact and easy to store, but the dispensing and donning process requires two hands and increases contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesterilityVSAvoiddonning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mitts are pre-positioned within the packaged glove structure with compartments that allow direct access. The packaging is designed so that the user can open and don the mitts without removing them from the package, eliminating the need for preliminary unfolding and separate handling steps that increase contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The packaged glove structure acts as an intermediary container that protects the mitts while allowing controlled access. The sealed compartments serve as intermediaries between the sterile mitts and the external environment, enabling safe dispensing and donning without direct hand contact with the mitt surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If manual handling of mitts is required for dispensing and donning, then the mitts can be properly arranged on the hand, but the risk of contaminating the mitt and patient increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemitt arrangementVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging design enables the user to don the mitts themselves without assistance or excessive handling. The compartments are arranged to allow easy access and self-donning, reducing the need for manual manipulation and transfer of the mitts, thereby minimizing contamination opportunities while maintaining proper placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If multiple separate mitts are used for cleansing different body parts, then each area can be targeted, but the number of materials required and waste generated increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleansing effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single packaged glove structure serves multiple functions by containing multiple specialized mitts for different body parts. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate packaging and distribution of multiple individual mitts, reducing material usage while maintaining the ability to target specific body areas for cleansing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4609769A1Patient cleansing mitt
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MOLNLYCKE HEALTH CARE AB
  • EP4609769A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4609769A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4609769A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure generally relates to a mitt (1) for cleansing the skin or a wound of a patient; the mitt having a lateral (x) and a longitudinal (y) extension and being defined by an upper edge (2), a lower edge (3), a first side edge (4), and a second side edge (5), wherein the mitt comprises a lower mitt portion (6) having a maximum longitudinal (y) extension corresponding to 10-50% of the maximum longitudinal (y) extension of the mitt (1), and an upper mitt portion (7) having a maximum longitudinal (y) extension corresponding to 50-90% of the maximum longitudinal (y) extension of the mitt (1), and wherein the mitt (1) comprises a first (8) and a second (9) layer being sealed along the upper edge (2) and the first (4) and second (5) side edges, wherein the first layer (8) is cut along a first cutting line (10) extending from the lower edge (3) to a first fold point (11) in the lower mitt portion (6), and along a second cutting line (12) extending from the lower edge (3) to a second fold point (13) in the lower mitt portion (6), and wherein the first layer (8) is folded along a folding line (14) defined between the first (11) and second (13) fold points to form a flap portion (15), wherein the area between the folding line (14) and the first (10) and second (12) cutting lines defines a hand insertion area (16). The present disclosure also relates to a package (17) comprising the mitt (1), and to a kit comprising the package (17) and a cleansing solution.