Sonication Tank System for Allograft Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating musculoskeletal allografts are laborious, inconsistent, and prone to environmental cross-contamination, with limited assurance of microbial elimination and ultrasonic energy penetration, leading to suboptimal cleaning and contamination control.
Innovation Solution
A sonication tank system with a rotatable treatment canister and multiple fluid sources, allowing for the application of ultrasonic energy and treatment fluids while minimizing manual handling, ensuring thorough exposure and automated fluid exchange to enhance cleaning and microbial inactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cleaning processes are used with manual manipulation of allografts between steps, then cleaning can be performed, but environmental cross-contamination increases and consistency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cleaning process into separate treatment chambers (first chamber for initial cleaning, second chamber for final cleaning/sterilization). Each chamber operates independently with its own fluid circulation system, allowing continuous processing without manual manipulation between steps, thus preventing cross-contamination while maintaining cleaning consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous cleaning operation where allografts remain in the closed system throughout the entire process. Fluid circulation and ultrasonic treatment continue without interruption or manual intervention, eliminating gaps where contamination could occur and ensuring consistent cleaning results.
2Reliability
If ultrasonic energy is applied to allografts, then microbial contamination is reduced, but shielding effects reduce energy penetration and cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts ultrasonic energy application by circulating treatment fluids continuously through the allografts during sonication. This fluid movement prevents static shielding effects and ensures uniform ultrasonic energy distribution throughout the tissue, maximizing microbial inactivation while maintaining energy penetration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Treatment fluids act as intermediaries between the ultrasonic energy source and the allograft tissue. The circulating fluid medium transmits ultrasonic energy uniformly throughout the sample while preventing direct contact shielding, thereby improving energy penetration and cleaning effectiveness.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple treatment fluids are used for thorough cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but process complexity and fluid management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single integrated fluid circulation system that handles multiple treatment fluids sequentially. The same circulation apparatus delivers different cleaning solutions, rinsing fluids, and sterilizing agents through the same chamber, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining thorough cleaning effectiveness through multi-stage treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous circulation system maintains uninterrupted fluid flow throughout the cleaning process, allowing seamless transitions between different treatment fluids. This eliminates the need for manual fluid changes or system disassembly, simplifying operation while ensuring consistent cleaning effectiveness across multiple treatment stages.
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 system significantly improves allograft cleaning and microbial inactivation by preventing energy shielding, ensuring consistent and technician-independent results with reduced cross-contamination, achieving higher log reductions and safer allografts for transplantation.
Implementation Method 1
a sonication tank configured to transmit ultrasonic energy to an interior of the tank
Implementation Method 2
ultrasound has been utilized to reduce and/or eliminate microbial contamination of allograft products. Ultrasound is microbiostatic to most microbes
Implementation Method 3
a treatment canister rotatably positioned in the sonication tank... rotating the treatment canister in the sonication tank
Implementation Method 4
a treatment fluid source in fluid communication with the treatment canister... fluid within the sonication tank will pass into the treatment canister
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed systems and methods of delivering sterile fluids aseptically to a sealed canister. In an embodiment, a includes a canister having an inlet, a vent, and a drain outlet, a reagent manifold in communication with the inlet, a bubbler in communication with the vent, and a fluid communicator from the drain outlet. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a canister having an inlet, a vent, and a drain outlet; selectively providing reagents to the canister from a reagent manifold in communication with the inlet, allowing excess gasses to leave the canister with a bubbler in communication with the vent, and selectively purging the reagents from the canister through the drain outlet. Other embodiments are also disclosed.