Respiratory Interface Packaging with Segmented Sterile Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current respiratory equipment packaging poses challenges in maintaining sterility and efficiency during use in medical environments, as healthcare professionals often accidentally contaminate the respiratory interface when trying to open and remove it from sealed packaging, leading to unnecessary discarding of equipment due to incorrect sizing or loss of sterility.
Innovation Solution
The packaging design features dual pockets with independent closures, allowing the respiratory interface and headgear to be sealed in one pocket while an auxiliary device like a sizing guide is in another, enabling the sizing guide to be accessed without opening the sterile packaging, and a packaging insert with headgear retaining slots that facilitate one-handed handling and minimize contact with face-contacting parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the respiratory interface assembly is sealed in sterile packaging, then sterility is maintained, but it becomes difficult to open while holding the packaging, increasing the risk of accidental contamination
Solution Approach 1:
A packaging insert is introduced as an intermediary component between the packaging and the respiratory interface assembly. The insert includes a retention feature that holds the headgear, allowing the medical professional to manipulate the insert rather than directly handling the sealed packaging or the sterile interface assembly. This mediator enables easy opening and removal while maintaining sterility of the interface assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sizing guide is included in the same packaging as the respiratory interface assembly, then all components are together, but opening the packaging to check size may result in discarding the interface if the wrong size is selected
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into distinct compartments: a first pocket containing the respiratory interface assembly in sterile sealed packaging, and a second pocket containing the sizing guide. This segmentation allows the sizing guide to be accessed and used for size determination without opening the sterile packaging, enabling size verification while preventing waste of the interface assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the medical professional handles the respiratory interface assembly to remove it from packaging, then the interface can be accessed, but face-contacting parts may be accidentally touched, destroying cleanliness
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging insert serves as a mediator that holds the headgear and interface assembly in a fixed position. The medical professional grasps and manipulates the non-sterile insert to remove the entire assembly from the packaging, rather than handling the sterile interface directly. This intermediary approach enables easy removal while preserving the cleanliness of the face-contacting parts.
Data Source
AI summary
Respiratory equipment packaging and insert for a respiratory interface assembly having a respiratory interface and headgear. The packaging includes a first pocket having a first opening, and being configured to enclose and sealing retain at least the respiratory interface and the headgear of the respiratory assembly, and a second pocket, adjacent the first pocket and having a second opening. The second pocket is configured to receive an auxiliary device intended for use with, or comprising part of, the respiratory interface assembly, such as a mask size measuring device. The insert is configured to support the respiratory interface in an upright orientation and includes at least one slot configured to receive a strap of the headgear of the respiratory interface assembly.