Team SaniScope
How might we design a device that increases stethoscope sanitation compliance across the healthcare field?
Skills Used
Project Overview
Stethoscopes are used by nearly all healthcare personnel, but there is currently no set protocol for stethoscope sanitation. Stethoscopes can potentially transmit infections from patient to patient, specifically Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI’s), which costs hospitals in the US between $28 billion to $45 billion annually and results in approximately 90,000 patient deaths. Team SaniScopeTM developed a wall-mounted automated sprayer in an attempt to eliminate stethoscopes as a vector of HAI transmission. This machine is intended to be mounted outside of every patient room and integrate into the “foam in, foam out” protocol.
Problem Statement
Hospital acquired infections (HAI's) pose a severe health risk to patients and a financial risk to hospitals, and there is currently no set protocol for stethoscope sanitation that exists to limit this mode of HAI transmission despite stethoscopes being used by nearly all healthcare professionals.
Primary Needs and Ideation
Our team began by taking a look at the current sanitation procedure. Having interviewed a combined total of 25 physicians, nurses, medical school students, nursing school students, and EMT’s, it has been determined that a lack of access to materials, inefficient methods, and lack of time are major issues with the current cleaning products.
At Emory Hospital, there are stations between every 2 patients rooms where wipes are expected to be kept, however, it is questionable whether a canister is there or whether the canister is full. To use the wipes, manufacturers recommend putting on gloves to wipe down the entirety of the stethoscope. Then users are required to wait 3 minutes for the stethoscope to dry to ensure chemicals have entirely killed all pathogens.
From our user interviews and research into the active number of healthcare professionals, we were able to approximate the opportunity available for stethoscope sanitation. Current research states that there are approximately 3,820,000 physicians and nurses in the United States. With our interviews showing the stethoscope being used, on average, 18 times a day, we find that the opportunity to sanitize the stethoscope is 68,760,000 times a day in the US.
QUICK. EFFECTIVE. COMPLIANT.
Prototyping and Final Solution
The automatic insertable stethoscope sanitation device is a wall-mounted automated sprayer in which an alcohol-based solvent is dispensed to sanitize and disinfect the stethoscopes of physicians and healthcare workers. With Covid-19 hitting right at the start of our final prototyping phase, my team was unable to physically finish the device. However, I developed the SolidWorks models seen to the left which were the in line with the expected final design, as well as the foam core model found below.
The outer casing has an attached shelf at the top with the same length and width of the general housing. Because only the chestpiece and tubing are being inserted into the sanitation device, the remainder of the stethoscope must be contained within an enclosed compartment. The shelf allows the top of the stethoscope to be held above. A small hole in the shelf and device chamber allows for a direct path for the chestpiece and tubing to be inserted.
At the top of the insertable region is an IR beam sensor, which allows for sprayer activation. Immediately below the sensors are three pairs of flat spray tip nozzles on two sides of the container, for a total of six pairs. At the base is the Raid sprayer, which has a larger diameter and will spray the underside of the inserted stethoscope.
The images shows me using the foam core prototype I developed at home. I am demonstrating the way a physician would utilize the SaniScope device by taking their stethoscope and sliding it through the top of the device. The entire prototype was developed from foam core and cardboard scraps I had readily available.
Using SolidWorks, a fluid dynamics simulation was run to assess the velocity through a two-conical headed nozzle. The fluid flows into the cylinder and out of the cone. The interactions between the fluid and internal surfaces are again depicted by the arrows, which depict the velocity. The entry velocity of the fluid is 1.125 times greater than that at the shape change, and at the nozzle exit.
My teams final poster was used to present to industry leaders and peers. The poster aided in showcasing our step by step process, starting with initial research and problem statement, to prototyping and validation.
Potential Impact and Future Goals
In showing our product to healthcare professionals, we received positive feedback on the desirability and uniqueness of our device. They found our insights surround the problem space to show compelling need and evidence for the existence of this device in healthcare settings.
In the future, our team identified it would be useful to incorporate an LED light that informs the user once the stethoscope has been sanitized. Addition of an LED that changes from red ( In Use) to yellow (Almost Done) to green (Done) to blue (Ready for Use) would be beneficial for the user because they would be informed of the status of disinfection. Additionally, incorporation of hinges on the general casing would be beneficial. These hinges would be placed in a way to utilize the front of the device as if it were a door. This addition would allow the user to easily access the device interior, to allow for any necessary replacements.