Rotating Spray Head for Medical Device Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning devices for medical devices, such as endoscopes, face performance issues due to rotation blockages by protruding parts or hoses during the cleaning process, which compromises cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a spray device featuring a rotatably supported spray head and nozzle outlet, designed to minimize space and reduce the risk of blockages, utilizing a cylindrical or spherical spray head with a reduced dimension perpendicular to the shaft axis and a 360° spray angle for enhanced cleaning and self-cleaning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spray arms are used for cleaning, then cleaning fluid can be distributed over medical devices, but rotation of the spray arms can be blocked by protruding parts or hoses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotating cleaning function from the traditional spray arm structure and transfers it to the cleaning fluid itself. The cleaning fluid is given rotational motion through a stationary spray device, eliminating the mechanical rotating components that would be blocked by protruding parts. This resolves the contradiction by removing the rotating element entirely while maintaining the cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating spray arm system with a stationary spray device that imparts rotational motion to the cleaning fluid. Instead of mechanically rotating the spray device, the system uses fluid dynamics to create rotating streams of cleaning fluid that clean the medical devices without requiring physical rotation of mechanical components.
2Productivity
If spray arms rotate within horizontal plane, then cleaning fluid reaches all areas, but protruding parts or hoses block the rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical rotation function from the spray device and extracts it into the fluid flow pattern. The stationary spray device creates rotating streams of cleaning fluid that cover all necessary areas without requiring the spray device itself to rotate mechanically, thus eliminating blocking issues while maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles to create rotating flows of cleaning fluid through the stationary spray device. By manipulating the fluid dynamics and flow patterns, the system achieves rotational cleaning coverage without mechanical rotation, using the cleaning fluid itself to perform the rotational motion through controlled fluid flow patterns.
3Volume of moving object
If spray head is made compact, then space requirement is reduced and blockage risk decreases, but cleaning coverage must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning function into multiple stationary spray nozzles distributed across the cleaning chamber rather than using a single large rotating spray arm. Each nozzle is compact and stationary, reducing individual volume and blockage risk, while the collective arrangement of multiple nozzles maintains comprehensive cleaning coverage through coordinated fluid spray patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional rotating spray arm that sweeps across the chamber to a three-dimensional arrangement of stationary nozzles that spray cleaning fluid in multiple directions simultaneously. This dimensional change allows compact nozzle design while achieving comprehensive coverage through spatial distribution and multi-directional spray patterns.
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
The design ensures reliable cleaning performance by preventing rotation blockages and reducing fluid consumption, while maintaining a compact space requirement and improving the distribution of cleaning fluid for thorough disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
a spray device provided in the cleaning chamber and configured to spray a cleaning fluid onto the medical devices to be cleaned
Implementation Method 2
The spray device is configured such that the spray head rotates when the cleaning fluid is sprayed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device comprises a cleaning chamber and a spray device, which is provided and configured within the cleaning chamber to spray a cleaning fluid onto the medical devices to be cleaned. The spray device comprises a shaft and a spray head with a nozzle outlet for spraying the cleaning fluid. The spray head is rotatably mounted on the shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The spray device is configured such that the spray head rotates when the cleaning fluid is sprayed.