Disposable Endoscope Laryngoscope Body With Single-Material Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical visualization devices for procedures like video laryngoscopy are costly, complex, prone to breakage, and require complicated sterilization and battery disposal, failing to meet the needs of cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece, single-use medical examination device with a high-resolution endoscope camera and a body made of a single material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, featuring a handle, blade, and detachable coupling to a mobile display device, eliminating moving parts and batteries, and using a unified material for ease of disposal and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a video laryngoscope system with multiple components is used, then visualization capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera, blade, handle, and coupling portion into a single integrated disposable body structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate sterilizable components and complex assembly, reducing device complexity while maintaining high-resolution visualization capability through the integrated endoscope camera system.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into a disposable single-use body containing the camera and optics, which can be detached from reusable components like the mobile display device. This segmentation allows the complex visualization system to be simplified into manageable parts where only the disposable portion needs to be sterilized or discarded.
2Reliability
If a reusable body made of sterilizable material is used, then durability is improved, but sterilization complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable single-use body that eliminates the need for repeated sterilization cycles. The body is manufactured from biocompatible materials suitable for medical contact but is designed for single use only, thereby removing the complexity of sterilization infrastructure while ensuring infection control through disposal after one use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple materials are used in the body construction, then functional performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and disposal difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a single material type (biocompatible polymer or plastic) for the entire body construction including handle, blade, and coupling portions. This homogeneous material approach simplifies manufacturing processes, eliminates the need for complex multi-material joining techniques, and facilitates uniform disposal or recycling while maintaining sufficient functional performance for medical examination.
4Ease of operation
If moveable parts are included in the accessory, then operational flexibility is improved, but breakage susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes moveable parts from the disposable body structure, extracting the flexibility function to the reusable mobile display device or other external components. The disposable body itself is designed as a rigid or semi-rigid structure without hinges, joints, or moving elements, thereby eliminating breakage risks associated with moveable parts while operational flexibility is maintained through the detachable coupling to external devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a two piece, single use, medical examination device comprising: a high resolution endo-scope camera and a single use body, wherein the body comprises i) a handle portion for gripping ii) a blade portion for introducing into a patient, and iii) a portion for detachably coupling to a mobile display device; wherein the endoscope camera is fixed within the body, and wherein the body is made of a single material, wherein the material is one of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene (HIP), polyurethane, polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, thermoplastic elastomer, acrylic, or polyester.