Reusable Handle with Disposable Sheath for Medical Device Waste Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-use medical devices contribute significantly to waste and environmental burden, as they are often disposed of entirely after a single use, despite only certain parts coming into contact with the patient.
Innovation Solution
A medical device design featuring a reusable handle and a disposable portion that includes a sheath, wire, and end effector, allowing for the disposable portion to be easily detached and replaced while the handle is cleaned and reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single-use medical devices are used, then patient safety and sterility are ensured, but waste generation and environmental burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device is divided into two distinct segments: a reusable handle portion and a disposable distal tip portion. The handle can be sterilized and reused, while only the distal tip that contacts the patient is disposed of after a single use. This segmentation reduces waste generation while maintaining patient safety standards.
2Reliability
If single-use medical devices are used, then sterility and contamination prevention are ensured, but device cost and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into reusable and disposable portions, allowing the expensive handle to be reused after sterilization while only the critical distal tip is replaced. This reduces overall device cost and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable handle is recovered and sterilized for subsequent uses, while only the disposable distal tip is discarded. This recovery process reduces device cost and resource consumption by eliminating the need to replace the entire device.
3Loss of substance
If reusable medical devices are used, then waste is reduced and cost is lowered, but sterilization complexity and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into reusable and disposable portions, the sterilization complexity is reduced to only the handle portion, which has simpler sterilization requirements compared to sterilizing entire complex devices.
4Productivity
If the disposable portion is easily detachable, then replacement speed and productivity improve, but coupling reliability and potential for assembly errors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism includes a release tab that can be easily pulled to disengage the disposable distal tip from the reusable handle. This extraction mechanism allows for quick replacement while maintaining secure coupling during use through the interlocking features.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device is disclosed herein. The medical device including a disposable portion. The disposable portion including a sheath and a wire disposed within a lumen of the sheath. The medical device further including a handle. The handle including a main body with a slot and a releasably engageable moveable body. The moveable body is formed by a first component and a second component. The first component and the second component are releasably engageable with both the slot and a proximal portion of the disposable portion. Movement of the moveable body is configured to move the wire.