Modular UV Light Source for Medical Device Lumen Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices, such as intravascular catheters and respiratory circuits, face challenges in maintaining a sterile environment due to biofilm formation and microbial colonization, leading to infections, and existing disinfection methods are cumbersome, expensive, and inefficient in ensuring complete sterilization of lumens.
Innovation Solution
A modular assembly comprising a light source emitting disinfecting/sterilizing UV light, connected externally to medical devices via a separate unit with an optical window, allowing for easy coupling and adaptation to various devices, ensuring all parts of the lumen are exposed to germicidal light without shadowing and reducing the need for continuous personnel intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a light source is integrated directly with the device lumen, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate components: a light source unit and a device unit, connected through a coupling mechanism. The light source can be detached and reapplied as needed, rather than being permanently integrated into the device lumen, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling part acts as an intermediary between the light source and the device lumen. This coupling part includes an optical window that transmits UV light while providing a interface for connection and disconnection, simplifying the overall system architecture and making the light source easier to operate independently.
2Reliability
If disinfection methods are comprehensive and thorough, then sterilization reliability is improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables preliminary sterilization of the device lumen before use by activating the UV light source in advance. The light source can be coupled to the device and activated prior to clinical use, ensuring sterilization is completed beforehand without requiring extended processing time during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV light source can be activated continuously or in repeated cycles to maintain sterilization throughout the device usage period. The coupling design allows the light source to remain connected and continue emitting UV light, providing ongoing sterilization without requiring repeated disconnection and reconnection operations.
3Ease of operation
If a separate unit with optical window is used to connect light source and device, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate different device types and light source configurations. The optical window and coupling mechanism are standardized to work with various lumen sizes and device geometries, making the system adaptable without requiring complex custom components for each application.
4Device complexity
If UV light is emitted directly into the lumen without a separate unit, then simplicity is improved, but adaptability to various devices decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling part and separate unit design allows the system to dynamically adapt to different device configurations. The coupling mechanism can be adjusted or selected based on the specific device being sterilized, enabling the same light source to effectively treat various lumen sizes and device types without requiring permanent integration into each device.
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 effectively prevents biofilm formation and kills microorganisms within medical device lumens, reducing the risk of infections, is cost-effective, and simplifies the disinfection process by allowing for prophylactic use and easy maintenance of the light source, while maintaining hygiene and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light source comprises a light emitting unit, which emits disinfecting/sterilizing UV light
Implementation Method 2
The separate unit comprises an optical window, through which the emitted light reaches the inlet portion of the device
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~2a
Figure 3~4a
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly for disinfecting/sterilizing surfaces and lumens of a device with a light source which emits disinfecting/sterilizing light. The assembly comprises a device (9) for transporting fluid having a lumen and a connector part (10), at least one light source (100) configured to emit light having disinfecting/sterilizing effect, and a separate unit (8); where the light source (100) comprises: a housing (1) comprising a light emitting unit (11) emitting light having disinfecting/sterilizing effect and a connector part (5). The separate unit (8) comprises: an optical window (4) being transparent for light emitted from the light emitting unit (11), a first coupling part and a second coupling part, where the first coupling part during use is attached to the connector part (5) of the light source (100), and the second coupling part during use is attached to the connector part (10) of the device, such that the device (9) are in complete extension of the light source (100) with no overlap, and the first coupling part is located at one side of the optical window (4) and the second coupling part is located on the other side of the optical window (4), when disinfection/sterilization of the device takes place.