Surgical Waste Manifold Drip Stop for Leak and Odor Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical waste collection systems face issues such as uncontained liquid waste leakage, odor release, and inaccurate fluid volume estimation due to trapped liquid in the manifold, as well as noise generation during operation.
Innovation Solution
A removably coupled intake manifold with a drip stop and filter basket design that minimizes liquid leakage and odor release, featuring a selectively openable valve and a filter basket to trap solids while allowing liquids to flow, ensuring accurate fluid volume estimation and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the manifold is designed with internal conduits and filter elements for waste collection, then waste collection capability is improved, but liquid waste leakage and odor release occur during manifold removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful liquid waste and odor-trapping function from the manifold by introducing a separate absorbent material layer. This layer is positioned to receive and contain liquids that drain from the manifold's internal conduits, preventing them from leaking during removal. The absorbent material acts as a dedicated waste containment component separate from the manifold structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary absorbent material between the manifold's internal conduits and the external environment. This intermediary layer captures liquids draining from the conduits and prevents their release, while also trapping odors. The absorbent material serves as a mediator that handles the harmful byproducts without compromising the manifold's waste collection function.
2Reliability
If liquid waste is trapped in the manifold during operation, then waste collection is maintained, but fluid volume estimation becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the trapped liquid waste from the manifold's internal conduits by providing a drainage path to the absorbent material layer. This allows liquid to be removed from the conduits while maintaining collection function, enabling accurate visual estimation of fluid volume in the canister without the confounding factor of hidden liquid in the manifold.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary drainage action by designing the manifold with built-in drainage conduits that continuously drain liquid to the absorbent material during operation. This preliminary removal of liquid from the conduits ensures that when volume estimation is needed, the manifold contains minimal trapped liquid, improving measurement accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If the manifold is designed as a single-use component with narrow conduits and internal filters, then sterilization complexity is reduced, but liquid waste adheres to surfaces and leaks upon removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary absorbent material layer that intercepts liquid waste before it can adhere to the manifold's narrow conduits and internal filter surfaces. This intermediary layer absorbs the liquids, preventing them from coating the manifold surfaces, thereby eliminating leakage upon removal while preserving the single-use design benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the liquid waste adhesion problem from the manifold by transferring the waste containment function to the separate absorbent material layer. The absorbent material takes on the role of holding liquid waste, allowing the manifold to be removed clean and free of adhered liquids, while maintaining the simplicity of single-use design.
4Ease of operation
If the manifold remains attached to the canister during procedure, then waste containment is maintained, but odor release occurs when disconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary absorbent material layer that traps odors generated by waste in the canister. This intermediary layer acts as a barrier between the waste and the environment, capturing odorous compounds. The manifold can be removed for refilling or replacement while the absorbent material continues to contain odors, preventing their release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the odor-trapping function from the manifold-canister connection and assigns it to the separate absorbent material layer. This allows the manifold to be easily removed and reattached while the absorbent material continuously manages odor containment independently of the connection state.
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 system effectively contains waste during manifold removal, prevents odor emission, and enhances fluid volume monitoring accuracy, reducing environmental contamination and noise in the operating room.
Implementation Method 1
a filter basket to trap solids while allowing liquids to flow
Implementation Method 2
featuring a selectively openable valve and a filter basket to trap solids
Data Source
AI summary
Manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection assembly. A shell includes a proximal end base, and a lip extending proximally from the proximal end base. The lip extends around an outlet opening defined in the proximal end base that is off-centered to a longitudinal axis of the shell. A cap including a cap head is coupled to a side wall of the shell. A drip stop may be seated within a space defined by the lip to cover the outlet opening. An arcuate section of the lip may be flush with an adjacent section of the side wall. The cap head may define a through hole, and a flapper valve unit may be coupled to the cap head with another component having ears extending through the through hole. A fence may extend from the cap head and configured to be grasped by a user.