Surfactant-Enhanced Endoscope Disinfectant for Rapid Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PAA-based disinfectants for flexible endoscopes suffer from slow wetting and corrosion issues, leading to inefficient disinfection and potential device damage in dynamic cleaning environments like AERs.
Innovation Solution
A disinfectant solution with a dynamic surface tension of less than 50 mN/m at 250 ms and less than 46 mN/m at 500 ms, achieved by combining peracetic acid with specific surfactants, is used to enhance wetting and reduce corrosion, allowing for rapid disinfection and protection of endoscopes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PAA-based disinfectants are used for flexible endoscopes, then disinfection is achieved, but wetting is slow and corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a surfactant as an intermediary substance between the PAA disinfectant and the endoscope surface. The surfactant mediates the interaction by reducing surface tension, enabling faster wetting and improving contact between the disinfectant and the device surface without compromising disinfection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of surface tension by adding surfactants to the PAA-based disinfectant formulation. This parameter change transforms the wetting characteristics of the disinfectant, allowing it to spread faster and more effectively over the endoscope surface while maintaining its biocidal activity.
2Reliability
If traditional PAA-based disinfectants are used for flexible endoscopes, then disinfection is achieved, but corrosion of the device occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant acts as a protective intermediary layer between the corrosive PAA solution and the endoscope surface. This intermediary film reduces direct contact between the acidic disinfectant and the device materials, thereby minimizing corrosion while still allowing effective disinfection to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of PAA corrosion into a beneficial protective mechanism. By carefully controlling the formulation and concentration of PAA in combination with surfactants, the disinfectant achieves effective microbial killing while the surfactant component mitigates the corrosive damage to the endoscope.
3Reliability
If higher concentration of PAA is used for sterilisation, then sterilisation assurance is improved, but transportation and storage requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the disinfectant formulation into functional components: PAA for sterilisation, surfactants for wetting and corrosion protection, and other additives for stability. This segmentation allows the product to be formulated at optimal concentrations for sterilisation effectiveness while maintaining manageable storage and transportation characteristics through proper formulation balance.
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 solution enables faster disinfection with at least a 6 log10 reduction in bacteria and spores, while minimizing corrosion, outperforming traditional PAA-based disinfectants under dynamic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A disinfectant solution with a dynamic surface tension of less than 50 mN/m at 250 ms and less than 46 mN/m at 500 ms, achieved by combining peracetic acid with specific surfactants, is used to enhance wetting
Implementation Method 2
enhance wetting and reduce corrosion, allowing for rapid disinfection
Implementation Method 3
PAA is normally supplied as an equilibrium mixture of PAA, hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. PAA is prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid
Data Source
AI summary
A working disinfectant solution comprising peracetic acid and at least one surfactant, prepared by the dilution of either a single-part or two-part concentrate for use in the disinfection or sterilisation of reusable medical devices such as endoscopes. The working solution exhibits rapid wetting characterised by a dynamic surface tension of less than 50 mN/m at 250 ms and 46 mN/m at 500 ms.