Ventilator Fluid Pathway Sterilization Using Forced Gas Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for sterilizing and disinfecting ventilator fluid pathways are inadequate, as they often require costly equipment, inconvenient handling, and exposure to hazardous materials, and are not specifically designed to target only the fluid pathway, potentially damaging electronic components and requiring extensive facility space.
Innovation Solution
A ventilator treatment system that uses a treatment gas flow generator to deliver a forced flow of treatment gas, such as ozone, through a gas circuit with releasable sealed interfaces to the ventilator's fluid pathway, allowing for targeted disinfection or sterilization without exposing sensitive electronics and reducing the need for extensive facility space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid chemical disinfectants are used for sterilization, then effective disinfection is achieved, but delicate instruments with electrical circuitry are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of the disinfectant from liquid to gas phase. The gas-phase disinfectant can penetrate and contact all surfaces including electronic components without causing the damage associated with liquid chemicals, while maintaining disinfection effectiveness through gas-phase chemical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces liquid chemical application methods with gas-phase delivery system. The gas disinfectant is delivered through controlled flow paths and distribution systems that ensure uniform contact with all surfaces without the mechanical damage caused by liquid immersion.
2Reliability
If steam sterilization is used, then effective sterilization is achieved, but repeated exposure to heat and moisture damages materials and electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the sterilization medium from steam (hot liquid/gas mixture) to cold gas-phase disinfectant. This eliminates the thermal and moisture damage while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through chemical action of the gas disinfectant at ambient or controlled temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces thermal sterilization with chemical gas-phase sterilization. The gas disinfectant achieves sterilization through chemical reactions with microorganisms rather than through thermal denaturation, avoiding heat and moisture damage to sensitive materials and electronics.
3Reliability
If gamma or E-beam radiation sterilization is used, then effective sterilization is achieved, but specialized equipment and facilities with safety precautions are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a gas disinfectant that can be generated on-site or delivered in simple containers, replacing expensive radiation equipment. The gas acts as a disposable sterilizing agent that can be applied, allowed to work, and then vented or neutralized without requiring complex recovery or disposal infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex radiation generation and delivery systems with simple gas-phase chemical sterilization. The gas disinfectant can be delivered through basic flow control and distribution mechanisms, eliminating the need for specialized radiation equipment and heavily regulated facilities.
4Reliability
If UV light radiation sterilization is used, then effective sterilization is achieved, but direct UV light path to all contaminated surfaces is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces line-of-sight optical sterilization with gas-phase chemical sterilization. The gas disinfectant can diffuse and penetrate into all cavities, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas of the ventilator, providing uniform sterilization without requiring direct light paths or complex positioning of UV sources.
5Reliability
If marketed gas sterilization chamber systems are used, then sterilization is achieved, but great deal of dedicated space and placement of entire medical device is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sterilization function from a large dedicated chamber system and integrates it into a compact portable unit. The gas disinfectant is delivered directly to the ventilator through integrated flow paths and distribution systems, eliminating the need for large facility space while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention nests the gas sterilization system within or integrated with the ventilator itself. The sterilization components are embedded in the ventilator structure, allowing the ventilator to serve dual purposes as both a medical device and a sterilization receptacle, thereby eliminating separate sterilization chamber requirements.
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
Effectively disinfects or sterilizes the fluid pathway of ventilators with minimal risk to electronic components and reduced facility requirements, ensuring patient safety and operational efficiency by using a targeted and cost-effective treatment gas system.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment gas flow generator is configured to generate a forced flow of treatment gas for delivery to the fluid pathway of the ventilator
Implementation Method 2
The gas circuit comprises a first interface configured to form a releasable sealed interface with a ventilator fluid pathway inlet of the ventilator such that the forced flow of treatment gas is directed into the fluid pathway of the ventilator through the first interface
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to a ventilator treatment system configured to sterilize and/or disinfect a fluid pathway through a ventilator by providing a forced flow of treatment gas to the ventilator. Ventilators are frequently contaminated with bacteria and viruses during normal use. When a ventilator is moved from one patient to the next, there is a risk of contaminating the new patient with a pathogen from the previous patient. The application of treatment gas is especially practical for sanitizing hard to access surfaces such as those found in the cavities and conduits (the fluid pathway) of a ventilator. A treatment gas such as, for example, ozone, converts back to oxygen and has a short half life, which can be further reduced with humidity, heat, or inexpensive destruct catalysts. This disclosure is applicable to any medical device with a fluid pathway that can become contaminated, provided the materials in the fluid pathway of the medical device are compatible with the sterilization and/or disinfection gas. In one embodiment, the ventilator sterilization system comprises one or more of a treatment gas flow generator, a gas circuit, a user interface, one or more sensors, a treatment gas remediation system, an exhaust port, one or more valves, a processor, electronic storage, and/or other components.