Sterilization Container Closure With Visual Seal Integrity Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rigid sterilization containers face challenges in detecting proper seal formation and maintaining sterility, as the seal gasket integration is difficult to verify without opening the container, and dual latching mechanisms do not uniformly distribute closure force.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization container with a closure mechanism that uniformly distributes closing force along the gasket and includes a visual seal indicator to show whether the container is sealed, using a combination gasket/filter with a filter media for barrier integrity and a seal indicator that changes states to indicate sealed or unsealed conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a dual latching mechanism is used to close the container, then the closure force is applied at two points, but the force is not uniformly distributed along the gasket
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is divided into multiple latches (at least three latches) distributed around the container perimeter, with each latch applying force at a different location. This segmentation of the closure function ensures uniform force distribution along the gasket while maintaining a relatively simple individual latch structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple latches are combined to work together as a unified closure system, with each latch contributing to the overall sealing force. The latches are coordinated to apply force simultaneously or in sequence, merging their individual effects into a uniformly distributed closure force along the entire gasket perimeter.
2Reliability
If the seal gasket is integrated within the lid, then the container provides a consistent barrier against contaminants, but it is difficult to detect if the main seal is properly formed without opening the container
Solution Approach 1:
A visual indicator mechanism is incorporated that changes color or displays different visual states depending on whether the gasket is properly compressed and sealed. This allows personnel to verify seal integrity from the exterior of the container without opening it, maintaining reliability while enabling easy detection.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary indicator mechanism is introduced between the gasket and the exterior environment. This mediator translates the internal seal state (gasket compression) into an observable external signal, allowing verification of seal formation without direct observation of the gasket itself or opening the container.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a visual seal indicator is added to indicate seal state, then seal integrity can be verified without opening the container, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal indicator mechanism is designed to automatically indicate seal status without requiring additional active components or external power sources. The indicator responds passively to the mechanical state of the gasket compression, allowing seal verification while minimizing added complexity through self-service operation.
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
Ensures proper sealing and maintains sterility by providing a visible indication of seal integrity without opening the container, ensuring contents remain sterile from sterilization to use.
Implementation Method 1
The closure mechanism compresses the gasket between the lid and the body to seal the interior against an ingress of contaminants
Implementation Method 2
a combination gasket/filter, where the combination gasket/filter has a gasket for sealing the interior against an ingress of contaminants integrally formed with filter media for forming a barrier between an external environment and the interior
Data Source
AI summary
Closure mechanisms for closing and sealing sterilization containers and indicators for indicating the seal integrity sterilization containers are provided. For example, a container closure mechanism may be configured to distribute a closure force along a gasket to seal a container lid to a container body. Further, a seal indicator may visibly indicate at the container exterior whether the container is sufficiently sealed to prevent an ingress of contaminants into the container. If the container is sufficiently sealed, the seal indicator is a first state, and if the sterilization container is not sufficiently sealed, the seal indicator is in a second state. Thus, the seal indicator undergoes a state change when the sterilization container transitions from unsealed to sealed or from sealed to unsealed, such that a user can ascertain whether the container is properly sealed to maintain sterility or whether the seal and sterility of the container have been compromised.