Sterile Pocket Drape System for Multi-Stage Medical Procedures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical procedures often require sterile supplies to be maintained in a specific order and sequence to prevent infections, but individually packaged kits can become disorganized during shipping and use, compromising sterility and complicating multi-step procedures.
Innovation Solution
A sterile compartmented packaging system with clear or transparent pockets on a drape material, folded to create distinct zones for different stages of a medical procedure, ensuring that each set of supplies remains sterile and is accessible in the correct order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If individually packaged medical supply kits are used, then all medical supplies are contained in a single package, but the items become exposed to the environment and lose sterility when accessed in stages
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is divided into multiple sealed compartments, each containing supplies for specific stages of the medical procedure. This segmentation allows each compartment to remain independently sealed and sterile until its designated time for access, resolving the contradiction between single-package convenience and staged sterility maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If components are stacked in order of use, then the correct sequence is intended, but components shift during shipping making the stack awkward and hard to determine
Solution Approach 1:
Components are placed in separate sealed compartments rather than stacked loosely. Each compartment maintains its designated position and contents throughout shipping, eliminating shifting while preserving the intended sequence of use. The segmented structure provides both stability and clear identification of component order.
3Reliability
If multiple sterile fields are created in a single drape system, then supplies for multiple stages remain sterile, but the drape material must be folded in a specific manner to maintain separation
Solution Approach 1:
The drape is pre-folded into a specific configuration that creates multiple sealed sterile fields before the procedure begins. This preliminary folding action establishes the sterile barriers in advance, ensuring that when the drape is unfolded during use, the sterile fields remain intact and supplies are accessible in the correct sequence without requiring complex manipulation during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A pocket and drape system which provides multiple (e.g., at least two) sterile fields and the methodology for employing said pocket and drape system is provided. The system includes a base drape material having an upper edge, lower edge, first side edge, and second side edge to define a perimeter, where the base drape material also includes a first (outer) surface and a second (inner) surface. A first zone of pockets is present on a portion of the first surface and a second zone of pockets present on a portion of the second surface. The manner in which the base drape material is folded at first and second longitudinal fold lines and first and second transverse fold lines during assembly (e.g., prior to sterilization) maintains the sterility of the first zone of pockets and the second zone of pockets until each zone is ready for use during a medical procedure.