Disposable Endoscopic Camera Head Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in surgical environments is ensuring the proper sterilization and single-use functionality of endoscopes and their components, as traditional methods are costly and may not guarantee the highest image quality, leading to potential infection risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for providing and reclaiming single-use imaging devices, featuring a sterile camera head with a molded plastic or metal housing, integrated optical systems, thermal dissipation, and a control unit that tracks usage and sterilization cycles to prevent reuse, ensuring safety and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sterilization methods are used for endoscopes, then infection risk is reduced, but manufacturing and processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable camera head design where the imaging device is intended for single use only. After one use, the entire camera head is discarded rather than subjected to costly sterilization processes. This eliminates the need for expensive sterilization infrastructure and processing while ensuring infection risk is minimized through single-use disposal. The disposable approach directly resolves the contradiction by making the device itself the solution to contamination rather than relying on post-use sterilization.
2Ease of manufacture
If endoscopes are reused after sterilization, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but image quality may deteriorate and infection risks remain
Solution Approach 1:
The camera head is designed as a single-use disposable component that provides consistent high image quality during its intended use period. The device is discarded after one procedure, eliminating concerns about image quality degradation from repeated sterilization cycles and completely preventing infection risks associated with reuse. This approach makes the device economically viable despite single-use disposal by eliminating the hidden costs of sterilization infrastructure and potential quality degradation.
3Reliability
If single-use imaging devices are implemented, then infection risks are eliminated, but device complexity increases due to tracking and sterilization cycle management
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable camera head eliminates the need for complex sterilization tracking systems by design. Each device has a predetermined single-use lifecycle, and after use, it is discarded rather than reprocessed. This simple approach eliminates infection risks without requiring sophisticated tracking infrastructure, sterilization cycle management systems, or complex validation procedures. The complexity is reduced by making the device itself disposable rather than managing its reuse.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If traditional endoscope sterilization processes are used, then devices can be reused, but processing time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable camera head eliminates time-consuming sterilization processes by design. Each device is used once and then discarded, completely eliminating the need for sterilization processing time. This approach may seem to reduce device availability, but it actually increases overall productivity by eliminating the time lost to sterilization cycles, validation, and quality assurance checks that are required for reusable devices. The simple disposal process is much faster than complex sterilization workflows.
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 ensures that imaging devices are used only once, maintaining high image quality while protecting patients and healthcare workers from infection risks, and reducing manufacturing and processing costs by implementing a secure, efficient sterilization and reuse process.
Implementation Method 1
An embodiment may further comprise a thermal energy dissipation means such as a heat sink or cooling mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A system and methods for providing and reclaiming a single use imaging device for sterile environments is disclosed and described. The system may include a single use high definition camera used for general purpose surgical procedures including, but not limited to: arthroscopic, laparoscopic, gynecologic, and urologic procedures, may comprise an imaging device that is a sterile and designed to ensure single use. The imaging device may have a single imaging sensor, either CCD or CMOS, encased in a housing.