Sterilizable Housing Assembly for OR Use of Personal Electronics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal electronic devices, such as smartphones and MP3 players, are not sterilizable and cannot be used in surgical operating rooms without compromising the sterile environment, as they are made from unsterile materials that cannot withstand sterilization processes like autoclaving.

Innovation Solution

A sterilizable housing for personal electronic devices, comprising a base and a cover made from materials that can withstand sterilization, allowing the device to be used within a sterile environment while maintaining sterility, with a user interface that provides selective access and communication capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If personal electronic devices are used in surgical operating rooms, then surgeons can access electronic functions (communication, music, surgical technique review), but the devices compromise the sterile environment because they are made from unsterilizable materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to electronic functionsVSAvoidcompromise of sterile environment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two separate components: a sterilizable housing that maintains the sterile barrier and a personal electronic device that remains non-sterile. The housing acts as an independent sterile container that houses the electronic device, allowing each component to fulfill its specific requirements without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sterilizable housing serves as an intermediary barrier between the sterile surgical environment and the non-sterile personal electronic device. This intermediate structure allows signals and control to pass through while maintaining the sterile boundary, enabling communication and control functions without direct contact between sterile and non-sterile elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If personal electronic devices are placed in sterile plastic bags, then the sterile environment is maintained, but the surgeon cannot directly access the device interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance of sterile environmentVSAvoidaccess to device interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface elements (display screen, control buttons, touch interface) are merged into the sterilizable housing structure itself rather than being separate components. This integration allows the interface to be both sterile and directly accessible to the surgeon, eliminating the need to reach through or manipulate non-sterile plastic bag packaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing incorporates a flexible or transparent interface layer that allows tactile interaction and visual access while maintaining the sterile barrier. This thin film or flexible structure enables the surgeon to operate the device through the sterile housing without breaking sterility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If personal electronic devices are subjected to sterilization processes, then the sterile environment is maintained, but the sensitive components and unsterile materials of the devices are damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance of sterile environmentVSAvoidintegrity of device components

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the sterilizable components (housing, interface elements) from the non-sterilizable components (electronic device). Only the housing undergoes sterilization processes, while the sensitive electronic device remains protected from exposure to autoclave heat, radiation, or chemical sterilants that would damage its components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The personal electronic device is extracted from the sterilization process entirely. Instead of attempting to sterilize the complete assembled device, only the housing is sterilized separately, and the electronic device is placed inside the sterilized housing, thereby removing the need to subject sensitive components to damaging sterilization conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20100096963A1Portable electronic device assembly having sterilizable housing

Publication Date: 2010.04.22 ARTHREX INC

AI summary

A sterilizable housing for a personal electronic device includes a base, a cover and a user interface. The base is configured for receiving the personal electronic device. The cover is selectively engageable to the base. Both the base and the cover are sterilizable. The user interface provides selective access to the personal electronic device, and is at least partially contiguous with a corresponding user interface of the personal electronic device.