Sterilizable Magnetizer Housing for Contamination-Free Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetizer systems for medical devices are prone to contamination during the magnetization process, leading to loss of sterility, as they are difficult to clean and often require single-use or disposable components.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizable magnetizer system with a housing design that includes a top face with a first opening for receiving medical devices and a second opening for cleaning and sterilization, featuring a curved conical tapering surface and a smooth interior surface to minimize contact with contaminating surfaces, and positioned magnets that can be integrated into the housing to facilitate magnetization while allowing for easy access and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a medical device is inserted into a magnetizer for magnetization, then the medical device can be magnetized, but the medical device may contact potentially contaminating surfaces and lose sterility
Solution Approach 1:
A disposable barrier device is introduced as an intermediary between the magnetizer and the medical device. This barrier device is inserted into the magnetizer first, creating a sterile interface that prevents direct contact between the magnetizer surfaces and the medical device, thereby maintaining sterility while enabling magnetization
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into distinct components: the magnetizer housing, the disposable barrier device, and the magnetizable medical device. This segmentation allows the barrier device to be replaced between uses, isolating the sterile field from potential contamination sources
2Reliability
If existing magnetizer systems are formed with thin deep wells enclosed in plastic, then magnetization can be performed, but cleaning becomes difficult and single-use or disposable components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable barrier device serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for cleaning the magnetizer interior. The barrier device is discarded after use, replacing the need for complex cleaning procedures while maintaining sterility
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier device is designed as a low-cost, single-use component that is discarded after one use. This approach is more economical and reliable than attempting to thoroughly clean and sterilize complex magnetizer interiors between uses
3Reliability
If a sterilized magnetizer makes contact with unsterilized surfaces, then the magnetizer becomes contaminated, but maintaining sterility is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable barrier device acts as a protective intermediary that shields the sterilized magnetizer from contact with unsterilized surfaces. The barrier device can be sterilized independently and disposed of after use, protecting the permanent magnetizer from contamination
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 effectively minimizes contamination risks by allowing for thorough cleaning and sterilization of the magnetizer, maintaining sterility during the magnetization of medical devices, and enabling efficient tracking and guidance of medical devices during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A medical device may be magnetized by a movement near one or more magnets
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to a magnetizer comprising at least one magnet; and a housing, the housing comprising: a top face; a bottom face positioned on an opposite side of the housing from the top face; a plurality of faces adjoining the top face and the bottom face; an interior comprising an interior surface formed at least in part by the top face, the bottom face and the plurality of faces; wherein the top face includes a first opening configured to receive a medical device; and wherein the at least one magnet is positioned within the interior of the housing. A face of the plurality of faces may include a second opening to expose at least a portion of the interior surface through the second opening. The second opening may be larger than the first opening.