Channel Irrigation System Pressure Control for Endoscope Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional channel irrigation systems for medical articles, such as endoscopes, face challenges in accurately controlling flow rates through internal channels, leading to inconsistent flow and potential false alarms, and require costly flow rate monitors.
Innovation Solution
A channel irrigation system that continuously measures the current pressure of the process medium and controls a flow producing device to maintain a target pressure or pressure range, allowing for accurate flow control using low-cost flow sensors like paddlewheel sensors, and incorporates a gear pump for precise flow and pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional channel irrigation systems are used, then flow rates can be supplied to internal channels, but flow control precision is poor leading to inconsistent flow rates and false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback control mechanism where a pressure sensor continuously monitors the actual pressure in the manifold and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit compares the actual pressure with the target pressure and adjusts the flow producing device accordingly to maintain the desired pressure, ensuring consistent and reliable flow rates through the internal channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow rate monitoring systems with a pressure-based control system. By controlling and monitoring pressure instead of directly measuring flow rate, the system achieves more precise and reliable control using simpler and more cost-effective sensors, while still ensuring accurate flow delivery to the channels.
2Measurement precision
If costly flow rate monitors are used, then accurate flow control can be achieved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces pressure as an intermediary parameter to indirectly control and measure flow rate. Instead of using expensive direct flow rate sensors, the system uses a pressure sensor to monitor the pressure in the manifold and controls the flow producing device based on pressure feedback. This intermediary approach enables accurate flow control while using cost-effective pressure sensing technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the controlled parameter from direct flow rate measurement to pressure measurement and control. By controlling the pressure in the manifold and using pressure as the feedback parameter, the system achieves accurate flow rate control without requiring expensive flow rate monitors, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining measurement precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pressure control is implemented, then flow consistency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a feedback control loop where the pressure sensor continuously monitors manifold pressure and the control unit adjusts the flow producing device based on the difference between actual and target pressure. This feedback mechanism ensures flow consistency through pressure stabilization while keeping the control logic relatively simple and straightforward to implement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically adjusts the flow producing device based on pressure feedback without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates to maintain target pressure, ensuring consistent flow rates through the internal channels while reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms or manual adjustments.
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
This solution provides reliable and accurate flow control to internal channels, reducing the risk of false alarms and enabling cost-effective processing by maintaining consistent pressure and flow rates, ensuring predictable and robust cleaning of medical articles.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor configured to measure the current pressure of the process medium inside the manifold
Implementation Method 2
a flow producing device configured to produce and supply a flow of a process medium
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A channel irrigation system (10) for flushing process medium through internal channels of a medical article, in particular of an endoscope. A flow producing device (12) produces and supplies a flow of a process medium to a manifold (14). A plurality of fluid passages (24, 26) extend from respective outlets of the manifold. Each fluid passage has another end connectable to a respective internal channel of a medical article to be flushed with the process medium. A pressure sensor (28) measures the current pressure of the process medium inside the manifold. A control unit (100) receives from the pressure sensor information about the value of the current pressure and, based on the received information, controls the operation of the flow producing device so that the process medium inside the manifold reaches a target pressure or target pressure range.