UV-LED PD Disinfection for Catheter Connections and Exit Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peritonitis, an inflammation of the peritoneal cavity due to bacterial or fungal infections, is a significant risk in peritoneal dialysis treatments, necessitating improved aseptic handling and connection methods to enhance the overall aseptic quality.
Innovation Solution
A peritoneal dialysis disinfection device that uses ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) to disinfect both the catheter connection end and exit site, featuring a rechargeable power source, timer, and adjustable design for safe and effective disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual connection and handling of dialysis fluid is used, then the treatment can be performed with simple equipment, but the risk of peritonitis increases due to inadequate aseptic handling
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary disinfection of the catheter connection end and exit site using UV-LEDs before the actual dialysis treatment begins. This advance disinfection action ensures that the connection surfaces are sterilized beforehand, preventing bacterial contamination during fluid connection and handling, thereby improving aseptic quality without requiring complex ongoing disinfection procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual mechanical disinfection methods (such as alcohol swabs or boiling) with UV-LED optical disinfection. This substitution provides more reliable and consistent sterilization of the catheter connection end and exit site, improving the reliability of aseptic handling while maintaining procedural simplicity through automated timing and portable design
2Reliability
If UV disinfection is applied to both catheter connection end and exit site, then the risk of peritonitis is reduced, but the treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs periodic UV-LED disinfection cycles with automatic timing control. The UV-LEDs are activated for specific predetermined durations (e.g., 30 seconds to 2 minutes) sufficient to sterilize the catheter connection end and exit site, then automatically deactivated. This periodic action ensures thorough disinfection while minimizing the time added to the overall treatment protocol, preventing both under-disinfection and excessive time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be self-contained with an integrated rechargeable battery, control circuitry, and timer that automatically manages the disinfection process. Once activated, the system self-regulates the UV-LED operation duration and sequence, eliminating the need for complex user timing or monitoring, thus reducing the effective time burden on the patient while ensuring complete disinfection
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 device effectively reduces the risk of peritonitis by ensuring thorough disinfection of catheter connections and exit sites, enhancing the aseptic quality of peritoneal dialysis treatments while being user-friendly and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
uses ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) to disinfect both the catheter connection end and exit site
Data Source
AI summary
A peritoneal dialysis (“PD”) disinfection device includes a top made of a material configured to let light pass through the material, a bottom, a printed circuit board (“PCB”) secured between the top and the bottom, a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes (“UV-LEDs”) secured to the PCB, and a power source operable to supply power to the plurality of UV-LEDs. At least one of the top, the bottom, and the PCB includes a feature that enables a patient to locate and orient the PD disinfection device so that UV light from the plurality of UV-LEDs is directed towards a connection end of the patient's catheter or a catheter/patient exit site.