Sterile Glove Touchless Donning Stretching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for donning sterile gloves often increase manufacturing costs and complexity while failing to minimize contamination risks effectively, as they require direct contact with the glove's surface.
Innovation Solution
A sterile glove with a detachable stretching mechanism, including a pair of handles and a pivot, that allows the cuff to be stretched without touching the glove's surface, enabling touchless donning and maintaining sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional packaging with folded cuffs is used, then gloves can be packaged simply, but direct contact during donning increases contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a detachable stretching mechanism as an intermediary tool that allows the user to manipulate and stretch the glove without directly touching the cuff opening. The mechanism includes a holder with gripping portions that interface with the glove's folded cuff, enabling touchless handling and reducing contamination risk while maintaining sterility during donning
2Ease of manufacture
If packaging complexity is reduced, then manufacturing cost decreases, but contamination risk increases without touchless donning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching mechanism is designed to be detachable and self-contained within the simple packaging structure. The mechanism includes detachable components that can be easily assembled and disposed of, allowing the glove package to provide its own touchless donning solution without requiring complex external packaging systems or additional assistance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a stretching mechanism is added, then touchless donning is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stretching mechanism is divided into multiple detachable segments including a holder with first and second gripping portions, and separate stretching elements. This segmentation allows the mechanism to be easily manufactured, assembled, and disposed of after single use, reducing the complexity burden despite adding touchless functionality
4Productivity
If traditional handling is used, then device complexity remains low, but productivity decreases due to assistance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable stretching mechanism serves as an intermediary tool that enables independent touchless donning without requiring assistance from another person. The mechanism includes gripping portions that allow the user to manipulate the folded cuff and stretch the opening autonomously, improving donning efficiency while keeping the device structure relatively simple
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 solution allows for efficient, contamination-free donning of sterile gloves without additional assistance, ensuring that no surface of the glove is contacted by non-sterile hands, thereby maintaining sterility and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The stretching mechanism has an unstretched state and a stretched state, and the stretching mechanism is in the unstretched state when the glove is packaged
Data Source
AI summary
A sterile glove includes a hand and finger portion and a cuff having an inside surface and an outside surface. The cuff is adapted to be folded over at a fold when the glove is packaged in a sterile package and the fold forms an opening for inserting a hand into the glove. A stretching mechanism is coupled substantially near or on the fold and is adapted to increase a size of the opening while donning the glove. At least a portion of the stretching mechanism is detachable. The stretching mechanism has an unstretched state and a stretched state, and the stretching mechanism is in the unstretched state when the glove is packaged.