Disposable Surgical Instrument Retainer for Open-Pouch Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilization devices for surgical instruments are bulky, expensive, and not compatible with single-use sterilization pouches, leading to potential contamination and inefficiencies in maintaining instruments in an open position during sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A disposable retainer device with an elongated body and end sections featuring central openings and gaps, made of polyurethane or similar materials, securely holds surgical instruments in an open position within sterilization containers, including peel pouches, using a snap-fit mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sterilization devices (racks, stringers, clamps) are used to hold instruments in open position, then instruments can be retained during sterilization, but the devices are bulky, expensive, and incompatible with single-use sterilization pouches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by making the retainer device from a single piece of disposable material that can be discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for expensive, reusable metal racks and stringers that require cleaning and sterilization between uses. The disposable nature also makes the device compatible with single-use sterilization pouches, resolving the compatibility issue while maintaining the function of holding instruments in the open position during sterilization.
2Productivity
If multiple surgical instruments are held simultaneously in conventional devices, then sterilization capacity is increased, but instrument surfaces touch and sterilization efficacy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by designing the retainer device with multiple separate retention structures (multiple gaps in the end sections) that can hold multiple instruments independently. Each instrument is retained in its own designated space, preventing surfaces from touching while still allowing multiple instruments to be sterilized simultaneously. This segmented approach maintains both high productivity through batch processing and reliability through proper sterilization efficacy.
3Ease of manufacture
If reusable sterilization devices are used, then cost is reduced per use, but cleaning and sterilization protocols add time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to eliminate the time-consuming cleaning and sterilization protocols associated with reusable devices. Although disposable devices have higher per-use material cost, they eliminate the labor time and complexity of cleaning and re-sterilizing metal racks and stringers between uses. The device is simply used once and discarded, significantly reducing the time and operational complexity while maintaining cost-effectiveness through simplified processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer device for positioning of medical instruments for cleaning and sterilization, including an elongated body portion with a first end and a second end, and a first end section positioned at the first end and a second end section positioned at the second end. Each of the first end section and the second end section includes a central opening and a gap connected to the central opening. Preferably, the end sections form a ring-like structure having a circular shape with the central opening and gap therein. The gap and the central opening are configured to receive a portion of a surgical instrument.