Sealed Chamber for Medical Endoscope Sterility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for storing medical equipment, such as endoscopes, after disinfection are limited to around 3 hours, leading to frequent reprocessing needs, increased costs, and risk of cross-contamination, with existing solutions like UV light storage causing component degradation and increased contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sealed chamber with reduced pressure to evaporate moisture, removal of oxygen using scavengers, and optional disinfectant gas charging to maintain a biostatic environment, which extends the storage time of disinfected medical equipment beyond 500 hours without deteriorating the equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If medical equipment is stored in a disinfected environment for extended periods, then the storage time between procedures is extended, but the risk of pathogen multiplication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by removing oxygen from the storage environment using oxygen scavengers (such as iron powder or ascorbic acid) and replacing it with an inert or low-oxygen atmosphere. This prevents aerobic pathogen multiplication while maintaining equipment disinfection for extended periods (500+ hours), directly resolving the contradiction between extended storage time and disinfection maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the storage environment by controlling oxygen concentration (reducing to below 1% or even 0.1%) and moisture content (using desiccants like silica gel). These parameter changes create conditions that inhibit pathogen growth while preserving equipment sterility, enabling extended storage without compromising disinfection reliability.
2Reliability
If UV light is used to maintain disinfection in storage cabinets, then the disinfection level is maintained, but the rubber and plastics components of endoscopes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the UV light mechanical/physical system with a chemical system (oxygen scavengers and controlled atmosphere). This substitution maintains disinfection reliability through chemical inhibition of pathogens while eliminating the harmful UV radiation that causes component deterioration, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining disinfection and preserving component integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces oxygen scavengers as intermediary substances that mediate between the need for disinfection and the protection of equipment components. These scavengers chemically bind oxygen to prevent pathogen growth without emitting harmful radiation, serving as a benign intermediary that achieves disinfection while protecting rubber and plastics components from degradation.
3Productivity
If multiple endoscopes are stored together in a cabinet, then storage efficiency is improved, but the risk of cross-contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a shared inert atmosphere environment that can accommodate multiple endoscopes simultaneously. By establishing a low-oxygen, controlled moisture environment at the cabinet level, the system enables efficient multi-device storage while the inert atmosphere prevents cross-contamination between devices, resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and cross-contamination risk.
4Reliability
If frequent cleaning and disinfection is performed to maintain sterility, then the disinfection level is maintained, but the operating costs increase and equipment lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a protective inert atmosphere environment before pathogens can multiply or cause contamination. This preventive measure extends the effective storage period to 500+ hours, eliminating the need for frequent reprocessing and thereby reducing operational costs and equipment wear while maintaining sterility, thus resolving the contradiction between sterility maintenance and operational efficiency.
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
This method effectively extends the storage time of disinfected medical equipment while maintaining sterility and reducing operational costs, preventing cross-contamination and component degradation, and ensuring the longevity of the equipment.
Implementation Method 1
reducing the pressure within the sealed chamber to cause evaporation of residual moisture
Implementation Method 2
removing atmospheric oxygen therefrom by means of a gas scavenger
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for maintaining the disinfection of medical equipment, in particular medical endoscopes (10), following processing. The method comprises placing the disinfected equipment (10) in a sealed chamber (12), and subsequently reducing the pressure within the sealed chamber (12) to cause evaporation of residual moisture. Gas scavenger sachets (21) are also provided within the sealed chamber (12) to remove atmospheric oxygen, thus causing a further reduction in the chamber pressure. The method may optionally include a further step of charging the sealed chamber (12) with a disinfectant gas or vapor. The processed medical equipment (10) is then maintained at the desired level of disinfection within the controlled biostatic environment in the sealed chamber (12).