Sterilization Tray Trap Door Mechanism for Hermetic Sealing
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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, especially in hospital and pharmaceutical settings, where they are transported or stored before use.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus that configures from an open to a closed state after sterilization, hermetically isolating the items from the environment using a trap door mechanism, temperature sensor, and solenoid control, ensuring items remain sterile until use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sterilized items are left open for storage and transport, then accessibility and ease of use are improved, but re-contamination from dust particles and microorganisms occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane or foil seal that closes the sterilization container after the sterilization cycle. This flexible barrier maintains the sterile environment by preventing dust particles and microorganisms from entering while allowing the container to be easily opened when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and contamination prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a hermetic seal is maintained after sterilization, then protection from re-contamination is improved, but accessibility and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The container design incorporates a dynamic sealing mechanism that transitions from a closed hermetic state to an open accessible state. The flexible membrane seal can be easily opened by breaking the vacuum seal or using a simple opening mechanism, allowing the container to adapt between providing maximum protection and maximum accessibility as needed.
3Ease of operation
If the sterilization container remains open during the sterilization cycle, then ease of loading and unloading items is improved, but re-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane seal is pre-positioned to automatically close and seal the container immediately after the sterilization cycle completes. This preliminary sealing action ensures that items are protected from re-contamination as soon as they are sterilized, while the container remained open during the actual sterilization process for easy loading and unloading.
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
Effectively prevents re-contamination of sterilized items by maintaining a hermetic seal until they are accessed for use, allowing for efficient and economical sterilization and storage of surgical instruments and other items.
Implementation Method 1
solenoid control
Implementation Method 2
temperature sensor
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 hermetically 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 of items disposed within the apparatus.