Sterilization Tray Automatic Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sterilized items are prone to re-contamination due to exposure to dust particles and microorganisms in the environment after sterilization, as they are not effectively protected during storage and transportation.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus that configures from an open to a closed state automatically upon completion of a sterilization cycle, hermetically sealing the items within a container to maintain the sterilized environment until use, using sensors and actuators to monitor and control the transition based on temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sterilized items are stored in an open environment after sterilization, then accessibility and ease of storage are improved, but the items become prone to re-contamination by dust particles and microorganisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilized items are nested within a container that provides a protective enclosure. The container acts as a nested structure that houses the sterilized items while maintaining a sterile barrier between the items and the external environment, preventing re-contamination while allowing controlled access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The container serves as an intermediary barrier between the sterilized items and the non-sterile environment. This intermediate structure allows the items to be stored and transported without direct exposure to dust particles and microorganisms, while still enabling accessibility through controlled opening mechanisms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sterilized items are stored in a closed sterile environment, then protection from re-contamination is improved, but device complexity increases due to automatic sealing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The container is equipped with automatic sealing mechanisms that self-activate based on environmental conditions. Sensors detect when the sterilization cycle is complete and automatically seal the container, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining protection against re-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors within the container monitor environmental conditions such as temperature and pressure, providing feedback to the sealing mechanism. When specific conditions indicate the end of sterilization, the system automatically responds by sealing the container, creating a closed-loop control system that protects items without requiring complex manual operations.
3Ease of operation
If the container remains open during sterilization, then ease of loading and unloading items is improved, but the sterilized environment cannot be maintained during storage and transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The container transitions dynamically between open and closed states based on operational needs. During loading and unloading, the container is open for ease of access. After sterilization, the container automatically closes to maintain the sterile environment. This dynamic state change allows the system to optimize for different operational phases without compromising either ease of operation or sterile maintenance.
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
Prevents re-contamination of sterilized items by maintaining a sterile environment during storage and transportation, ensuring the items remain sterile until they are accessed for use, and allowing for multiple reuse cycles.
Implementation Method 1
sensors and actuators to monitor and control the transition based on temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions
Implementation Method 2
sensors and actuators to monitor and control the transition based on temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions
Implementation Method 3
sensors and actuators to monitor and control the transition based on temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions
Implementation Method 4
hermetically sealing the items within a container to maintain the sterilized environment
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for sterilizing items and storing the sterilized items prior to use includes a container configured to receive items to be sterilized, a trap door coupled with the container, and a mechanism operatively coupled with the trap door and the container. The trap door is reconfigurable between an open configuration providing a fluid passage into the apparatus and a closed configuration in which the items are sealed within the apparatus. The mechanism is configured for selective reconfiguration of the trap door from the closed configuration to the open configuration and to automatically reconfigure the trap door from the open configuration to the closed configuration after completion of a sterilization cycle for items disposed within the apparatus.