Visual Seal Indicator for Sterilization Container Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rigid sterilization containers lack an effective means to indicate whether the main seal is properly formed and maintained, making it difficult to ascertain if the contents remain sterile post-sterilization without opening the container.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a visual seal indicator that changes state between unsealed and sealed states, visible from the exterior, using a dual-colored gasket or indicator assembly that indicates sterility through color changes or patterns, ensuring the container's contents remain sterile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid sterilization container with an integrated seal gasket is used, then the container provides consistent barrier protection against contaminant ingress, but it becomes difficult to detect whether the main seal is properly formed or if the gasket is damaged without opening the container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color change indicators that visibly transition between different colors (e.g., red to green) based on the seal state. When the lid is properly secured and compresses the gasket, the indicator changes color to signal a sealed state. This allows external visual detection of seal integrity without opening the container, directly resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and detectability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual indicator system that mediates between the internal seal gasket and the external observer. The indicator is positioned between the gasket and the container exterior, translating the internal seal state into an externally visible signal, thus enabling detection of seal formation without breaching the container's protective barrier.
2Device complexity
If the seal gasket is integrated within the container lid, then the container structure is simplified, but it becomes difficult to ascertain that the main seal has properly formed for maintaining sterility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-verifying seal system where the container itself provides visual feedback about its seal status through integrated indicators. The seal verification function is built into the container structure, allowing users to check seal integrity without requiring additional tools or procedures, thus maintaining structural simplicity while improving ease of verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated visual indicators use color changes to communicate seal status directly on the container exterior. This allows users to easily verify seal formation by simply observing the color of the indicator, making the seal verification process intuitive and straightforward without adding mechanical complexity to the container structure.
3Device complexity
If no visual indicator is provided, then the container design remains simple, but users cannot quickly verify seal integrity or sterility maintenance from the exterior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-changing visual indicators that provide immediate visual feedback about seal integrity. Users can quickly determine whether the container is properly sealed by observing the indicator color from a distance, eliminating the need for time-consuming inspection procedures and enabling rapid verification of sterility maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicators are pre-positioned on the container exterior to provide advance information about seal status before the container is opened or used. This preliminary visual confirmation allows users to verify seal integrity in advance, preventing unnecessary handling of improperly sealed containers and saving time in the verification process.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Indicators for indicating the integrity of a seal of a sterilization container are provided. For example, a seal indicator may indicate whether the container is sufficiently sealed to prevent an ingress of contaminants into the container. If the container is sufficiently sealed, the seal indicator is in one state and displays a first indicium, and if the sterilization container is not sufficiently sealed, the seal indicator is in another state and displays a second indicium. Thus, the seal indicator undergoes a visible change in state when the sterilization container transitions from unsealed to sealed, such that the user may be assured that the container is properly sealed to maintain sterility of the articles post-sterilization. Further, the seal indicator undergoes a visible change in state if the seal is subsequently broken, to signal to the user that the seal and the sterility of the container interior has been compromised.