Manual Sterilizing Fluid Pump for Stethoscope Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stethoscopes, commonly used in healthcare settings, pose a significant risk of infection transmission between patients due to inadequate sterilization practices, despite efforts by healthcare providers to minimize contamination through hand washing and isolation measures.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus comprising a fluid container and pump assembly that allows for the manual pumping of sterilizing fluid onto the stethoscope surface, utilizing a spring-loaded fluid delivery tube with apertures to ensure effective fluid distribution and engagement with the device, enabling proactive sterilization before use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stethoscopes are used without sterilization between patients, then ease of operation is improved, but infection transmission risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing pre-packaged sterile stethoscope covers that are prepared in advance and can be quickly donned before patient contact. The covers come in ready-to-use packaging that maintains sterility until the moment of application, eliminating the need for on-site sterilization procedures while ensuring infection prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a disposable sterile cover as a barrier between the stethoscope and different patients. This cover acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact and potential cross-contamination while allowing the stethoscope to remain reusable. The cover can be easily applied and removed without affecting the underlying device.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If stethoscope covers are provided, then infection transmission risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible shells and thin films by using a thin, pliable cover material that conforms to the stethoscope's shape. This thin-film approach provides effective sterilization barriers without adding significant bulk, weight, or complexity to the device. The flexible nature allows easy donning and doffing while maintaining simplicity in the overall system.
3Reliability
If manual sterilization procedures are implemented, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-sterilizing the covers in a controlled manufacturing environment and packaging them in sterile containers. This eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site sterilization procedures, as the covers are already sterile when opened. Healthcare providers can quickly don the pre-sterilized cover without waiting for sterilization cycles, thus maintaining high sterilization effectiveness while minimizing time loss.
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
The apparatus effectively reduces the risk of infection transmission by ensuring that stethoscopes are sterilized prior to each patient interaction, addressing the limitations of existing covers and bags that fail to proactively sterilize medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid delivery tube 20 having an upstream end 22 and being spring load biased S in an upstream direction U such that the upstream end 22 of the fluid delivery tube is urged upstream U to a stationary start position disposed outside the enclosed interior chamber 13
Implementation Method 2
the fluid delivery tube 20 being manually drivable by the user in a downstream direction D starting from the stationary start position and adapted to pump fluid upstream F1u through the fluid flow channel 20FC on downstream driven movement D of the fluid delivery tube 20
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for pumping a selected sterilizing fluid by a user comprising:a fluid container, a pump assembly having a fluid delivery tube, the fluid delivery tube being manually drivable by the user in a downstream direction starting from a stationary start position and adapted to pump fluid upstream through an upstream end of the fluid delivery tube that is configured to receive and engage a complementary surface of an external device,the fluid delivery tube being drivable downstream from the start position by manually engaging the complementary surface of the external device against the upstream facing surface of the enlarged head and manually driving the external device in the downstream direction.