Removable Labelling Plate for Sterile Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current labeling systems for sterile containers and instrument trays are inflexible and prone to errors during cleaning processes, particularly with high-alkaline detergents, as aluminum identification tags are not compatible, leading to complex and costly production and handling issues.
Innovation Solution
A removable labelling plate with standardized interfaces for barcode labels and RFID tags, featuring a clip mechanism for labels and a deformable hook mechanism for tags, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from both containers and trays, enabling flexible handling and compatibility with reprocessing methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminum identification tags are used for marking sterile containers, then identification functionality is provided, but compatibility with high-alkaline cleaning detergents is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The labeling system is divided into separate components: the sterile container, the labelling plate, the barcode label, and the RFID tag. The labelling plate serves as an intermediary carrier that can be selectively attached to containers or instrument trays, allowing the identification elements (label and tag) to be separated from the container during cleaning processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The labelling plate acts as an intermediary element between the container and the identification elements. It provides a platform that can hold both the barcode label and RFID tag, and can be selectively attached to either the container or the instrument tray, enabling flexible identification strategies during different processing stages.
2Adaptability or versatility
If removable identification tags are used to enable separate processing of containers and trays, then flexibility during cleaning is improved, but error-prone manual reassignment of tags to trays occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The barcode label and RFID tag are merged onto a single labelling plate, creating a unified identification system. This ensures that both identification elements remain associated with each other throughout the cleaning and reprocessing workflow, eliminating the risk of mismatching labels and tags when reassigning them to instrument trays.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sterile containers are prepared with removable labeling capability, then flexibility for individual labeling is achieved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The removable labelling plate is extracted as a separate, standalone component rather than integrating labeling functionality directly into the sterile container structure. This allows the container to remain simple and standardized, while the labeling capability is provided by the detachable plate that can be attached as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The labelling plate is designed as a universal component that can be attached to both sterile containers and instrument trays, serving multiple functions in different contexts. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized container designs, thereby lowering production complexity and cost.
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 solution simplifies the handling and cleaning of sterile containers by allowing for flexible labeling and compatibility with high-alkaline detergents, reducing manufacturing costs and minimizing errors in identifying and merging containers and trays during processing cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable hook mechanism for tags
Data Source
AI summary
A labelling system includes a labelling plate being adapted to be removably connected with a sterile container, wherein the labelling plate includes interfaces for at least one label (e.g. barcode) and at least one identification tag (e.g. RFID). The interfaces can removably hold the at least one identification tag and/or the at least one label at the separate labelling plate.