Sterilization Wrap Corner Protectors and Perforated Edge Protection

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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, and existing solutions either increase material costs or require additional wrapping time and material.

Innovation Solution

A sterilization wrap system featuring corner protectors and size-selectable protection materials with perforations, allowing for customizable lengths and attachment mechanisms to secure the protectors directly to the wrap or tray, made from similar materials to the wrap for enhanced protection and ease of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If corner protectors are added to the sterilization wrap system, then protection against tears and breaches is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against tears and breachesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protection system is segmented into discrete corner protector elements that can be individually applied to each corner of the sterilization wrap. This segmentation allows the protectors to be added as separate components rather than integrating complexity into the entire wrap system, thereby improving local protection without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The corner protectors are pre-formed and ready-to-apply components that provide protection before the sterilization process begins. By preparing the protective elements in advance as separate units, the system achieves enhanced reliability without requiring complex integrated structures, as the protectors are simply attached to the corners of the wrap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If size-selectable protection materials with perforations are used, then adaptability to different package sizes is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomizable lengthsVSAvoidperforation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The protection materials are provided with perforations that allow the material to be segmented into different lengths according to package size requirements. This segmentation approach enables adaptability to various package dimensions while using standard manufacturing processes for creating the perforations, thereby reducing the overall precision requirements compared to custom-making each protector size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from fixed-size protectors to dynamically adjustable sizes through the perforation feature. Users can tear the material at the perforations to create the appropriate length for different package sizes, providing versatility without requiring complex precision manufacturing for multiple fixed sizes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If attachment mechanisms are added to secure protectors, then reliability of protection is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring protectorsVSAvoidwrapping time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanisms use simple, replicated components such as adhesive strips or tabs that can be quickly applied to each corner. By using standardized, easy-to-apply attachment methods rather than complex mechanical fasteners, the system achieves reliable securing of protectors while minimizing the additional time required for application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3334363B1Sterilization tray protection mechanisms
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 O&M HALYARD INC
  • EP3334363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3334363B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3334363B1 patent drawingFigure 4

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.