Angled Ear Endoscope with Integrated Suction for Stable Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopes used in middle ear surgery are cumbersome, causing ergonomic imbalances, limiting the surgeon's ability to use suction devices and microscopes simultaneously, and risking damage to ear structures due to unsupported handling.

Innovation Solution

A combined visualization and suction device with a short, thin design that allows ergonomic handling, enabling simultaneous use with a microscope and providing suction capabilities with a single hand, featuring a rotating and bendable shaft for enhanced maneuverability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a standard endoscope with a long shaft is used for visualization, then the surgeon can see inside the ear, but the surgeon's hand must be suspended in the air unsupported, risking accidental damage to ear structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization capabilityVSAvoidsafety of ear structures

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope shaft is bent at an angle (e.g., 30-60 degrees) rather than being straight, allowing the surgeon to position the handle in a safe, supported location while the distal end reaches into the ear canal for visualization without requiring the hand to be suspended over the patient's head

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Measurement precision

If a standard endoscope is used for visualization, then the surgeon can see inside the ear, but the endoscope is much heavier than surgical tools, causing ergonomic imbalance and arm fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization capabilityVSAvoidweight of endoscope

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope is designed as a lightweight, compact device with separated functional components (visualization shaft, handle, suction shaft) that can be used independently or in combination, allowing the surgeon to hold only the necessary portion and reducing overall weight and fatigue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The endoscope incorporates a bent shaft configuration that changes the spatial dimension of operation, allowing the heavy visualization component to be positioned away from the surgeon's hand while maintaining ergonomic hand positioning on the patient's head

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If the surgeon holds the endoscope in one hand, then visualization is achieved, but that hand is no longer free to hold a suction device or surgical tool

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization capabilityVSAvoidability to use multiple devices simultaneously

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope integrates multiple functions into a single device, including visualization (camera), suction (suction shaft with lumen), and illumination, allowing the surgeon to perform visualization and suction simultaneously with one hand while the other hand remains free for surgical tools

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The endoscope is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform visualization, suction, and potentially other surgical functions through attachable tools, eliminating the need for separate devices and freeing the surgeon's hands for other tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Measurement precision

If a straight shaft endoscope is used, then the endoscope can be held in a direct line from the ear, but it blocks the path of vision of a microscope, making it impossible to use both simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendoscope visualizationVSAvoidcompatibility with microscope

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bent shaft design allows the endoscope to be positioned at an angle relative to the ear canal, creating spatial separation between the endoscope's line of sight and the microscope's optical path, enabling simultaneous use of both visualization devices without mutual obstruction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250281035A1Ear visualization and/or treatment

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 3NT MEDICAL

AI summary

A device for visualizing a surgical procedure in an ear may include a handle, a visualization shaft extending from the handle and including a distal end disposed at an angle that is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the visualization shaft, and a rotation mechanism connecting the visualization shaft to the handle. The rotation mechanism allows the visualization shaft to rotate around the longitudinal axis relative to the handle. The device also includes an imaging sensor at a distal end of the visualization shaft and a light source at the distal end of the visualization shaft. The imaging sensor and the light source are positioned at the angle of the distal end relative to the longitudinal axis of the visualization shaft.