Surgical Instrument Cleaning via Activated Oxidizing-Alkaline System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning surgical instruments, particularly those used in high-frequency surgery, are labor-intensive and often damage the instruments' surfaces due to the difficulty in removing organic contaminants like burnt blood and protein residues, which are exacerbated by the small dimensions and thermal effects during use.
Innovation Solution
A two-component cleaning system is developed, comprising a first liquid with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent and a second liquid containing a complex-forming ingredient, an alkaline component, and a polyhydric alcohol, which, when combined, generates heat and gas, automatically loosening and dissolving dirt without the need for mechanical treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning with brushes or abrasive pads is used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but surface damage to instruments occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning methods (brushes, abrasive pads) with a chemical cleaning system. The cleaning composition contains oxidizing agents, chelating agents, and surfactants that chemically break down and remove organic contaminants from instrument surfaces without requiring mechanical abrasion, thereby eliminating surface damage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the cleaning solution by combining multiple components (oxidizing agents, chelating agents, surfactants) in specific concentrations and pH ranges. This creates an optimized chemical environment that enhances cleaning power against burnt-on residues while being gentle on instrument surfaces, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and surface protection
2Reliability
If thermal disinfection is used, then sterilization is achieved, but burnt-on residues remain on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies chemical cleaning as a preliminary step before thermal disinfection. The cleaning composition removes burnt-on residues and organic contaminants from instrument surfaces prior to sterilization, ensuring that subsequent thermal disinfection can achieve complete sterilization without leaving residues, thereby resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and surface cleanliness
3Ease of operation
If washing in washer-disinfector is used, then basic cleaning is achieved, but difficult-to-remove residues remain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the washing solution by incorporating oxidizing agents, chelating agents, and surfactants in optimized concentrations and pH levels. This enhanced chemical formulation increases the cleaning power against stubborn residues like burnt-on blood and protein, maintaining ease of operation through automated washing while achieving complete cleaning reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite cleaning composition combining multiple chemical agents (oxidizing agents, chelating agents, surfactants) that work synergistically. This composite formulation provides both the ease of automated washing and the reliability of complete residue removal, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and cleaning completeness
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 system effectively pre-cleans surgical instruments by generating temperatures above 30°C and promoting gas evolution, allowing for the automatic removal of tough residues without surface damage, as demonstrated by significant improvements in cleaning performance compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a first liquid containing or consisting of an oxidizing agent, in particular with hydrogen peroxide
Implementation Method 2
a second liquid which is alkaline and contains a complexing agent and a polyhydric alcohol
Implementation Method 3
when combined, generates heat and gas, automatically loosening and dissolving dirt
Implementation Method 4
when combined, generates heat and gas, automatically loosening and dissolving dirt
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cleaning surgical instruments, characterized in that a first liquid containing or consisting of an oxidizing agent and a second liquid, which is alkaline and contains a complexing agent and a polyhydric alcohol, are combined, thereby obtaining an activated cleaning system with which a surgical instrument to be cleaned is contacted. Use of a cleaning system for cleaning a surgical instrument, characterized in that the cleaning system comprises a first and a second liquid, wherein the first liquid contains or consists of an oxidizing agent, and the second liquid is alkaline and contains a complexing agent and a polyhydric alcohol, and wherein the cleaning system can be activated by combining the two liquids.