Removable Sterilization Tray Fastener for Direct Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization tray designs with irremovable fasteners add excess weight and length, restrict stacking of tray bases, and require separate lids for each tray, limiting the capacity and efficiency of medical instrument sterilization processes.
Innovation Solution
A removable sterilization tray fastener system with arms extending from an elongate body, allowing easy attachment and detachment of tray bases without tools, enabling direct stacking and reducing overall weight by eliminating the need for separate lids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an irremovable fastener is used to securely attach the lid to the tray base, then the connection strength is improved, but the weight of the sterilization tray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into separate components: a body portion and an attachment portion, allowing the fastener to be detached from the tray base. This segmentation enables the fastener to provide secure connection when needed while being removable to reduce weight when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener transitions from a static irremovable state to a dynamic removable state. The fastener can be attached to and detached from the tray base as needed, providing flexibility in weight management while maintaining connection strength when attached.
2Reliability
If an irremovable fastener is used to secure the lid, then the connection reliability is improved, but the length and width of the sterilization tray increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into a body portion and attachment portion, allowing the attachment portion to be minimized or eliminated when not in use, thereby reducing the overall dimensions of the sterilization tray while maintaining connection reliability when the fastener is attached.
3Stability of the object's composition
If an irremovable fastener is used to attach the lid, then the connection stability is improved, but the ability to stack multiple tray bases is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener provides stable connection when attached to a single tray base but can be easily detached to allow stacking of multiple tray bases. This dynamic attachment capability enables both stable connection for single-tray use and versatility for multi-tray stacking configurations.
4Reliability
If separate lids are provided for each tray base, then the connection reliability is improved, but the total weight increases and instrument capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener serves multiple functions: it provides reliable connection when attached to a tray base, and its removability allows tray bases to be stacked without separate lids. This multi-functionality enables a single fastener design to support both connection reliability and increased instrument capacity through stacking.
Data Source
AI summary
Sterilization tray fasteners are disclosed herein. The disclosed sterilization tray fasteners may be formed to join sterilization tray bases stacked directly on top of one another together. In some embodiments, sterilization tray bases may be formed to have slots or apertures to accommodate features of the disclosed fasteners. For example, in some embodiments, the disclosed sterilization tray fasteners include an elongate body and two curved arms that can extend into apertures of the sterilization tray bases. In many embodiments, the disclosed fasteners can be attached to and detached from sterilization tray bases without tools.