Sealed Sterilization Chamber Preventing Microbial Infiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high velocity hot air sterilization devices allow environmental microbial contaminants to enter the sterilization chamber and instruments are not adequately protected from contamination during and after the sterilization process, which is detrimental in critical-care environments requiring total sterility.
Innovation Solution
A high velocity hot air sterilization device with a closed and sealed recirculating air handling system that maintains sterile conditions throughout the sterilization cycle, using a recirculating fan, electric heating coil, and directed high velocity hot air supply to ensure instruments are sterilized within a sealed environment, preventing external air infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a high velocity hot air sterilization device allows outside air to circulate within the sterilization chamber during the sterilization cycle, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but microbial contaminants from environmental sources can enter and contaminate instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sterile, controlled atmosphere within the sterilization chamber by sealing it during the sterilization cycle. The chamber is isolated from the external environment, maintaining a sterile internal environment that prevents microbial contamination while allowing high velocity hot air circulation for efficient heat transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sterile barrier system consisting of sealed instrument containers with sterile drapes or wraps. These intermediaries protect instruments from environmental contaminants while allowing heat transfer, enabling the chamber to be sealed during sterilization.
2Loss of time
If unwrapped instruments are placed directly in the sterilization chamber, then sterilization speed is improved, but instruments are subjected to potential microbial contamination from environmental sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sterile, controlled atmosphere within the sterilization chamber by sealing it during the sterilization cycle. This allows unwrapped instruments to be sterilized rapidly without exposure to environmental contaminants, as the chamber maintains a sterile environment throughout the high-velocity hot air sterilization process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary sealing of the sterilization chamber before the sterilization cycle begins. The chamber is sealed and verified to be contaminant-free before instruments are exposed to high velocity hot air, ensuring that rapid sterilization occurs in a pre-established sterile environment.
3Device complexity
If the sterilization chamber allows outside air circulation, then device complexity is reduced, but instruments cannot remain sterile when removed from the sterilizer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains a sterile atmosphere within the sterilization chamber by sealing it during the sterilization cycle and instrument removal process. This simple approach of isolating the chamber from the external environment ensures instruments remain sterile without requiring complex active air filtration or purification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sterile barriers such as sealed instrument containers and sterile drapes as intermediaries between the sterile chamber environment and the external environment. These intermediaries allow instruments to be transferred and handled without compromising sterility, maintaining reliability without adding complex sterility monitoring or maintenance systems.
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
Ensures instruments remain sterile by maintaining sterile conditions within the sterilization chamber and instrument containers, preventing microbial contamination during and after the sterilization process, meeting the stringent sterility requirements of critical-care environments.
Implementation Method 1
High velocity hot air sterilizers in which air is moved at a high rate, such as at 2500 feet per minute, with the flowing air serving as the heat transfer medium
Implementation Method 2
The sterilizer heats air to a high temperature, such as 375° F., at a high velocity
Data Source
AI summary
A device and system is disclosed for sterilizing objects, commonly dental, medical, or veterinary instruments, by directing high velocity hot air into a container having pre-constructed plenums to direct, diffuse, and re-circulate the sterilizing agent uniformly throughout the chamber to effect sterilization of contained medical objects. More specifically, the invention employs high velocity hot dry air as the sterilizing agent, generating the heat and rapid airflow by means of a base unit. The high velocity heated air is forced into the medical instrument container where a removable air supply/return plenum directs the heated, rapidly flowing air uniformly throughout the container. During the sterilization process heated air temperature is maintained in the container by a continual re-circulating of exhaust air back to the base unit for re-heating and return to the container. Upon completion of the sterilization process the container is removed from the base unit, sealing air supply and exhaust air container portals to assure continued sterility of the contained instruments within the container.