Sterilant Cassette Pressurization for Complete Liquid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cassette designs for sterilant delivery in sterilizers face limitations in efficiently extracting liquid sterilant without trapping it in wrinkles during collapse, restricting the design to a rigid outer shell with a flexible inner cell.
Innovation Solution
A method involving piercing a cassette cell with needles and flowing gas to pressurize and extract liquid sterilant, which can be repeated for multiple cells, with options for atmospheric or higher pressure gas flow and adjustable needle positioning for maximum extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a flexible inner cell is used to allow complete collapse during sterilant extraction, then the extraction efficiency is improved, but the risk of trapping liquid sterilant in wrinkles during collapse increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using compressed air to pressurize the cell before collapse occurs. This pre-compression forces the liquid sterilant out through the needle aperture before the flexible cell material can form wrinkles that would trap residual liquid, thus ensuring complete extraction without the harmful effect of liquid trapping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatics by introducing compressed air into the flexible cell to create pressure differential. The compressed air flows through the cell material and forces the liquid sterilant out through the needle, using gas pressure to achieve complete extraction without mechanical collapse issues
2Strength
If a rigid outer shell encloses a flexible inner cell for sterilant delivery, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the flexible cell itself structural through proper material selection and geometric design. The flexible cell can withstand compression forces and maintain its shape during handling while still allowing complete collapse for sterilant extraction, thus serving both structural and functional purposes with a single component
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible shells by designing the cell from flexible material that can maintain structural integrity during handling and transport, yet collapse completely during extraction. The flexible material properties are selected to provide sufficient strength while enabling complete collapse without trapping liquid
3Speed
If compressed air is applied to the upper surface of the cassette cell to force sterilant out, then the extraction speed is improved, but the pressure control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the compressed air system that is already part of the sterilizer's operational infrastructure. The existing compressed air supply used for other sterilization functions is utilized to pressurize the cell and force sterilant out, eliminating the need for a separate pressure control system while achieving fast extraction
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 ensures complete and efficient extraction of liquid sterilant from the cassette cells, overcoming the limitations of prior designs by allowing for flexible cassette materials and optimizing sterilant delivery to a vaporizer in sterilizers.
Implementation Method 1
flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen
Data Source
AI summary
A method of delivering a liquid sterilant to a sterilizer involves piercing a cell of a cassette with a first needle having a first lumen, flowing a gas into the cell to pressurize the cell relative to a pressure within the first lumen and drive the liquid sterilant out of the cell through the first lumen. The liquid sterilant travels from the lumen to a vaporizer in the sterilizer.