Ring-Shaped Catheter Storage Case for Lower-Waste Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing storage cases for medical elongated bodies, such as catheters, require individual packaging, leading to increased costs, operational effort, and environmental impact due to waste generation.
Innovation Solution
A storage case that accommodates multiple medical elongated bodies by connecting pipe bodies in a ring-like shape, allowing them to be collectively packaged, with opposite or same winding directions for enhanced operability and reduced waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple medical elongated bodies are individually packaged in separate primary package cases, then each catheter is protected and easily stored, but costs increase, packaging effort increases, and environmental impact increases due to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individually packaged catheters into a single integrated storage case. The storage case contains multiple pipe bodies that can each accommodate a medical elongated body, allowing multiple catheters to be stored and transported together in one package rather than separate packages, thereby reducing packaging costs and waste while maintaining individual catheter protection
Solution Approach 2:
The storage case is segmented into multiple pipe bodies, each capable of independently accommodating a medical elongated body. This segmentation allows each catheter to be individually protected within its own pipe body while still being part of a unified storage system, resolving the contradiction between individual protection and collective packaging
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple medical elongated bodies are individually packaged, then each catheter can be independently stored, but time and effort are required to open multiple primary package cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple storage functions into a single storage case with a unified opening mechanism. The case can be opened from the outside to access multiple pipe bodies simultaneously, eliminating the need to open multiple separate package cases and reducing the time and effort required for preparation
3Device complexity
If pipe bodies are wound in the same direction, then the structure is simple and compact, but assembly requires changing the grasped portion which reduces operability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the winding directions of adjacent pipe bodies. By winding adjacent pipe bodies in opposite directions, the proximal opening portions are positioned to facilitate easier assembly without requiring the operator to change the grasped portion, thereby improving operability while maintaining structural compactness
4Ease of operation
If pipe bodies are wound in opposite directions, then assembly operability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses opposite winding directions for adjacent pipe bodies to create asymmetric structures that improve assembly operability. The opposite winding directions cause the proximal opening portions to be positioned in a way that facilitates easier connection between catheters, and the complexity is managed through the regular alternating pattern of winding directions
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a storage case for a medical elongated body with which it is possible to reduce costs, to improve workability, and to reduce an environmental impact. The storage case (10) is for accommodating a guiding catheter (70) and an inner catheter (80) that are assembled when used. In order to accommodate each of the guiding catheter (70) and the inner catheter (80), an outer pipe body (20) and an inner pipe body (30) that are wound to form a ring-like shape are connected to each other.