Auxiliary Wireless Module for Disposable Medical Visualisation Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless medical devices for visualization systems, such as endoscopes and laryngoscopes, face challenges in hospital settings due to limited compatibility with communication frequencies, high latency requirements, and high costs, particularly for single-use products.
Innovation Solution
A medical visualization system comprising a medical visualization device with an image sensor and light emitter, coupled with an auxiliary component that includes a device processing unit and wireless communication module, allowing for wireless transmission of image data to a monitor device, with the auxiliary component being reusable and the main device part being disposable, optimizing flexibility and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented in medical visualization devices, then flexibility and usability are improved, but compatibility with hospital communication frequencies and latency performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A separate wireless communication module is introduced as an intermediary component between the disposable medical visualization device and the monitor. This module can be selectively coupled to the device, providing wireless communication capabilities while allowing selection of appropriate communication protocols and frequencies that meet hospital requirements and latency specifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separate functional components: a disposable main device part (image sensor, light emitter), a reusable auxiliary component (wireless communication module, processing unit), and a monitor device. This segmentation allows the wireless communication module to be optimized for reliability and frequency compatibility independently from the disposable imaging components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If single-use medical visualization devices are used, then patient safety and hygiene are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The medical visualization system is segmented into disposable and reusable parts. The main device part containing image sensor and light emitter is single-use for patient safety, while the expensive wireless communication module and processing unit are reusable auxiliary components that can serve multiple devices, reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable auxiliary component is designed to be universally compatible with multiple main device parts through standardized coupling interfaces. This allows one wireless communication module to serve multiple disposable imaging devices, amortizing the cost of the expensive wireless components across multiple uses.
3Device complexity
If all components are integrated into a single device, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and reusability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into coupling-ready modules: main device part, auxiliary component, and monitor device. Each module can be independently optimized and replaced, allowing the system to adapt to different clinical requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system configuration is made dynamic and adaptable. The auxiliary component can be selectively coupled to different main device parts based on clinical needs, and the wireless communication parameters can be adjusted. This dynamic configurability enhances versatility without requiring complex integrated design for every possible scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical visualisation device includes a main device part and the auxiliary component couplable to the main device part. The main device part includes an image sensor adapted to generate image data indicative of a view from the main device part, a light emitter adapted to provide illumination of the view, and a main coupling part having one or more main terminals electrically connected to the light emitter and the image sensor. The auxiliary component includes a device wireless communication module adapted to communicate with a monitor wireless communication module of a monitor device, the device wireless communication module being adapted to transmit encoded image data using a downstream data channel to the monitor wireless communication module.