Project Description:

In hospital sterile processing units, the decontamination area is critical for cleaning surgical materials to prevent infections. The current manual cleaning process employs high-powered water spray nozzles, which inadvertently lead to the dispersal of contaminated droplets, posing a risk to sterile technicians and the surrounding environment. Existing personal protective equipment (PPE) for technicians inadequately protects against splashback and does not address the surrounding environmental contamination risks. The solution, “Off the Dome,” is a sink attachment that shields technicians and minimizes droplet dispersion. Made from durable plexiglass, this clear, adjustable dome attaches easily to various sinks with a magnetic strip. Its adjustability from 0-90° allows for optimal positioning and workflow enhancement. Through rigorous testing using absorbance pads and color-changing droplet indicator paper, “Off the Dome” demonstrated a significant 95% decrease in droplet dispersion and a 25% increase in redirecting contaminated water back into the sink, drastically reducing droplets on the technicians’ PPE. “Off the Dome” targets 6,100 hospitals nationwide to mitigate droplet dispersal, aiming to cut part of the $3.3B annual hospital spend on surgical site infections. Priced at $225 with an 87.2% margin, it promises profitable entry into a $20M market—$10M of which is readily serviceable—positioning it as both an infection control and cost-saving device. This innovation offers a unique value proposition by improving infection protection with its 90-degree adjustability and ergonomic design that outperform current market offerings. Moving forward, “Off the Dome” will pursue FDA classification as a Class 2 device, aiming for patenting and 510(k) evaluation. Seeking additional funding for advanced evaluation will help ensure safety and device performance. This solution marks a pivotal step towards improving sterile processing environments, offering a clear path to market leadership in the healthcare sector with its innovative design and substantial cost-saving potential for hospitals.