Sterilization Tray Edge and Corner Protectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sterilization wrap systems are prone to tears, cuts, and breaches, which can compromise the sterility of packaged surgical supplies, leading to increased re-processing costs and potential delays in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization wrap system featuring strap or belt protectors, edge protectors, corner protectors, and expandable protectors that provide additional layers of protection against cuts and tears, with a size-selectable protection system allowing for customizable lengths to be detached and used to secure the wrap or tray, thereby minimizing material waste and enhancing protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilization wrap is used without additional protectors, then the wrapping process is simple and quick, but the wrap is prone to tears, cuts, and breaches that compromise sterility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested protection by placing corner protectors inside the sterilization wrap at critical locations, then wrapping the tray with the protectors already in position. This nested approach allows multiple layers of protection (corner protectors within the wrap material) without requiring separate external attachment steps, thereby maintaining sterility while avoiding excessive system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The corner protectors are pre-positioned at critical locations on the sterilization tray before the wrap is applied. This preliminary placement ensures that protection is already in place at vulnerability points before wrapping begins, preventing tears and breaches during the wrapping process and subsequent handling, thus improving reliability without adding complex post-wrapping steps
2Strength
If edge protectors and corner protectors are added to the sterilization wrap system, then protection against tears and cuts is improved, but the complexity of the wrapping process increases
Solution Approach 1:
Edge protectors and corner protectors are nested within the sterilization wrap material during the wrapping process itself, rather than being attached separately before or after wrapping. The protectors are positioned at critical locations and then the wrap is drawn over them, integrating the protection elements into the wrapping process and maintaining ease of operation while improving strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies protection selectively at critical locations (corners and edges) rather than uniformly across the entire sterilization tray. Corner protectors are placed at corners where tears are most likely to initiate, and edge protectors are positioned at edges susceptible to cutting. This localized approach provides maximum protection against tears and cuts while minimizing the complexity added to the wrapping process
3Loss of substance
If a size-selectable protection system with detachable segments is used, then material waste is minimized and customization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization wrap material is divided into discrete segments or sections that can be selectively attached or detached. Corner protectors and edge protectors are provided as separate, size-selectable components rather than a single continuous piece. This segmentation allows users to attach only the specific protection elements needed for each tray size and configuration, minimizing material waste while the modular nature keeps the system relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system components are designed with universal applicability across different tray sizes and configurations. The corner protectors and edge protectors can be used with various sterilization tray dimensions, and the same basic protector designs serve multiple protection functions. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, minimizing material waste while avoiding excessive device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A sterilization wrap system with features for protecting a sterilization wrap and/or a sterilization tray of the sterilization wrap system is provided. Such features include strap or belt protectors, edge protectors, corner protectors, and/or expandable protectors, which each may provide protection of one or more areas of the sterilization wrap and/or tray when positioned against an outer surface of the wrap and/or between an inner surface of the wrap and a container for holding implements to be sterilized. A size-selectable protection system also is provided. The size-selectable protection system provides a material having a plurality of perforations such that a length of the material may be selected and detached from the rest of the material. The selected length of material may be used with a sterilization wrap system to protect a sterilization wrap and/or sterilization tray from cuts, tears, or the like.