Sealed Surgical Bag with Integrated Scrub Surface for Antiseptic Application

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical site disinfection methods are inefficient, costly, and increase patient risk due to the need for multiple sponges, potential incomplete coverage, splashing, and prolonged anesthesia time, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

Innovation Solution

A sealed application bag with a resilient seal gasket is used to apply antiseptic solution to the surgical site outside the operating theater, allowing for thorough disinfection without waste and reducing exposure time, featuring a solution deployment pouch and scrub brush for effective bacterial removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sponges are used to apply antiseptic solution, then complete coverage of surgical site is achieved, but waste increases and handling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete coverageVSAvoidwaste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sponges are merged into a single reusable applicator device that can be repeatedly saturated and applied to different areas of the surgical site, eliminating the need to discard multiple sponges and reducing waste while maintaining complete coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The applicator device is designed to be recovered and reused multiple times, with the sponge material being re-saturated with antiseptic solution rather than discarded after each use, thereby reducing substance loss while maintaining effective coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If antiseptic solution is applied in the sterile operating theater after anesthesia, then sterile environment is maintained, but anesthesia time increases and patient risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterile environmentVSAvoidanesthesia time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The antiseptic preparation is performed before the patient enters the sterile operating theater and before anesthesia is administered, allowing the surgical site to be disinfected in advance while the patient is still awake and without requiring prolonged anesthesia, thereby reducing anesthesia time and associated risks while maintaining sterile integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical preparation process is segmented into pre-operative disinfection (performed outside the sterile field) and intra-operative sterile surgical steps, allowing the antiseptic application to occur in a non-sterile environment before anesthesia while maintaining sterile boundaries during the actual surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If scrubbing action is used to dislodge bacterial colonies, then bacterial removal effectiveness increases, but solution splashing and spills increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial removalVSAvoidsplashing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible barrier film or sleeve is placed over the surgical site during scrubbing, containing the antiseptic solution and preventing splashing while allowing the scrubbing action to effectively remove bacterial colonies through the barrier, thereby maintaining bacterial removal effectiveness without creating harmful spills

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If new sponges are used for each area, then complete disinfection is ensured, but cost and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedisinfectionVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sponge applicator is designed to be recovered and reused across multiple application cycles, with the sponge material being re-saturated with antiseptic solution rather than discarded after each use, thereby reducing cost and time while maintaining effective disinfection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The same applicator device continues to be used for multiple areas and multiple patients after proper cleaning and re-saturation, ensuring continuous effective disinfection action without the interruption and cost of constantly replacing sponges, thereby improving throughput while maintaining disinfection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS10470842B2Apparatus and method for deploying a surgical preparation

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 MOORE MARK R

AI summary

A device used for applying an antiseptic preparation to a surgical site of a patient prior to surgery outside of an operating theater. A loose-fitting bag is provided which encloses the surgical site by securing the open end(s) to the patient by closing means. A high friction scrub surface is provided in the bag. A method and apparatus are also provided for releasing antiseptic into the interior of the bag. The method provides that the surgical site can be scrubbed within the bag so as to properly prepare the skin for surgery. A temperature indicator for the antiseptic preparation is also provided.