Backflow Valve Connector for Endoscopic Tube Set Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic procedures face challenges in maintaining sterility and reducing contamination risks due to the complexity and expense associated with separate systems for irrigation, insufflation, and rinsing, which require multiple water bottles and extensive sterilization or disposal processes.
Innovation Solution
A combined tube set with a backflow valve and adapter system that allows for a single water bottle to be used for both irrigation and rinsing, incorporating separate tubes for air, water, and optional gas flow, with a backflow valve to prevent contamination and simplify sterilization or disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate systems for irrigation, insufflation, and rinsing are used with multiple water bottles, then functional versatility is achieved, but device complexity and sterilization burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate tube sets (irrigation, insufflation, rinsing) into a single integrated tube set that connects to one water bottle. The connector assembly integrates multiple functions—irrigation lumen, insufflation lumen, and rinsing lumen—into a single system, reducing the number of separate water bottles and connections needed while maintaining all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single water bottle serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides irrigation fluid through the irrigation lumen, allows insufflation through the insufflation lumen, and enables rinsing through the rinsing lumen. The connector assembly is designed with universal compatibility to handle all these functions from one source, eliminating the need for separate water bottles for each function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple water bottles and tube sets are used, then functional versatility is achieved, but sterilization cost and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple separate tube sets into one integrated tube set, the patent reduces the total number of components that require sterilization. Instead of sterilizing multiple separate water bottles and tube sets, only one water bottle and one tube set need to be sterilized, significantly reducing sterilization labor and costs while maintaining all required functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the use of disposable single-use tube sets that can be sterilized or disposed of after a single use. This approach trades the high cost of repeated sterilization of durable equipment against the lower cost of disposable items, reducing overall sterilization burden and cost while maintaining functional versatility.
3Device complexity
If a single water bottle is used for multiple functions, then device complexity is reduced, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal flow paths within the single water bottle connection by providing separate lumens (irrigation lumen, insufflation lumen, rinsing lumen) that are physically separated within the tube set. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination between functions while maintaining a single water bottle connection, allowing each function to operate independently without contaminating the others.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly acts as an intermediary between the single water bottle and the multiple functional lumens. It mediates the flow paths by directing irrigation fluid, insufflation gas, and rinsing fluid through separate channels, preventing contamination while maintaining system simplicity. The valve mechanism also serves as an intermediary control element to regulate flow direction and prevent backflow.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate tube sets are used for irrigation and rinsing, then functional independence is achieved, but waste and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple tube sets into a single integrated tube set that maintains functional independence through separate lumens. This allows all functions (irrigation, insufflation, rinsing) to operate independently using the same water bottle connection, eliminating the waste associated with using and disposing of multiple separate tube sets while maintaining the independence needed for proper function.
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 solution reduces the risk of contamination, minimizes waste, and lowers labor and costs associated with sterilization by allowing a single water bottle to serve multiple functions, enhancing the efficiency and safety of endoscopic procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a backflow valve to prevent contamination and simplify sterilization or disposal
Data Source
AI summary
A connector is provided that is configured to pass a liquid from a bottle and a gas between a tube set assembly and a medical instrument, the tube set assembly comprising a first tube for gas flow and a second tube for liquid flow, the first and second tube contacting the connector, and a valve disposed within a flow path of the second tube and configured to prevent flow of the liquid back from the medical instrument to the bottle. The connector can be connected to a combined tube set for a disposable water bottle. The combined tube set provides a first tube set for rinsing that also includes air and water tubes.