Wheel-Mounted UV-C Disinfection for Medical Carts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical carts with wheels pose challenges in disinfection, as they can spread bacteria and viruses due to inadequate cleaning, particularly in medical settings where hygiene is critical.
Innovation Solution
A disinfection system utilizing germicidal light sources, such as UV-C LEDs, integrated into a wheel disinfection assembly that emits light onto the wheels and the surface they contact, with features like a rechargeable battery-powered generator, location tracking, and sensors for activation and safety, ensuring effective disinfection and reducing contamination transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cleaning methods are used for medical cart wheels, then manual cleaning effort is required, but disinfection effectiveness is insufficient and pathogens can still spread
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with an automated UV-C light disinfection system. The wheel-mounted UV-C LED array automatically disinfects the wheel surface and contact area without requiring manual intervention, eliminating the insufficiency of traditional cleaning methods while maintaining continuous operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The disinfection system is self-activating based on motion detection. When the cart moves, the motion sensor triggers the UV-C lights to disinfect the wheels automatically. This self-service mechanism ensures disinfection occurs without external intervention, directly addressing the pathogen spread problem while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If UV-C disinfection system is added to medical carts, then disinfection effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single wheel-mounted unit: UV-C disinfection, motion sensing, light emission control, and potential power generation. This multi-functionality approach improves disinfection effectiveness while minimizing the addition of separate complex systems to the medical cart.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses motion sensors to automatically trigger UV-C emission, eliminating the need for manual activation controls. The self-activating mechanism reduces control system complexity while ensuring reliable disinfection occurs whenever the cart is in use.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If continuous UV-C emission is used for disinfection, then pathogen elimination is maximized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV-C lights are activated periodically based on motion detection rather than continuously. When the motion sensor detects cart movement, the UV-C emission is triggered for the duration of movement. This periodic activation maximizes pathogen elimination during actual use while minimizing energy consumption during stationary periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The motion sensor automatically controls UV-C activation without external input. The system self-regulates energy consumption by activating lights only when motion is detected, thereby reducing overall energy use while maintaining effective disinfection during operational periods.
4Reliability
If wheel disinfection assembly is integrated into caster, then disinfection coverage is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The disinfection system is designed as a separate wheel-mounted assembly that can be manufactured independently and then integrated with the caster. This segmentation allows the UV-C components to be produced separately using optimized processes, then assembled to the wheel-caster unit, improving disinfection coverage while managing manufacturing complexity through modular construction.
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 significantly reduces the spread of pathogens by ensuring thorough disinfection of wheels and surfaces, enhancing hygiene in medical environments and limiting the transfer of contaminants between rooms.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources configured to emit germicidal light onto at least part of the respective wheel
Implementation Method 2
disinfection system using a germicidal light, such as ultraviolet-C (UVC) light
Implementation Method 3
The generator may engage the wheel and generates power in response to rotation of the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a medical cart is disclosed. The medical cart may comprise a frame, one or more wheels, and one or more wheel disinfection assembly. The frame may be configured to support medical equipment. The one or more wheels may be mounted to the frame. The one or more wheel disinfection assembly may each be associated with one of the one or more wheels. A wheel disinfection assembly may have one or more light sources configured to emit germicidal light onto at least part of the respective wheel. In some embodiments, the may also be configured to emit the germicidal light onto a surface on which the wheels are rolled.