Disposable Endoscope Head With Wireless Imaging and Balloon Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes, both traditional and electronic, face issues with high costs, resource wastage, incomplete disinfection leading to cross-infection, and inferior imaging quality, particularly in electronic endoscopes which lack ultra-high-definition capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A flexible and rigid endoscope system with a disposable head end integrating a flushing channel, balloon design, and wireless data transmission, combined with image processing algorithms like dark channel prior and multi-scale vascular enhancement, ensuring clear imaging and versatile use across different departments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reusable endoscopes are used, then cost is reduced and resources are conserved, but cross-infection risk increases due to incomplete disinfection and complex logistics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable endoscope head design where the imaging insertion end and operating end are discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for complex disinfection procedures while preventing cross-infection, as each patient receives a completely new, sterile endoscope. The disposable nature ensures reliability in infection prevention without the logistical burden of reprocessing.
2Measurement precision
If traditional optical endoscopes are used, then ultra-high-definition imaging quality is achieved, but cost increases and resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the endoscope into two segments: a reusable handle end containing the power supply and control systems, and a disposable endoscope end containing the imaging insertion end and operating end. This segmentation allows the resource-intensive imaging components to be disposable while the handle is reused, reducing overall resource consumption compared to traditional optical endoscopes that require complete reprocessing.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable endoscope end provides high-quality imaging at lower cost per use compared to reusable optical endoscopes. By eliminating the need for expensive disinfection equipment, facilities, and personnel time required for processing optical endoscopes, the overall resource consumption is reduced while maintaining imaging quality.
3Reliability
If one-machine-one-scope mode is used, then diagnostic accuracy is maintained, but resource waste increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable handle end is designed with universal compatibility to accommodate multiple disposable endoscope ends. A single handle can be used across different examinations and patients by simply replacing the disposable endoscope end, eliminating the need for dedicated one-machine-one-scope configurations while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through the imaging capabilities of each new endoscope.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable endoscope end ensures diagnostic accuracy for each patient while the reusable handle enables multiple uses. This approach increases productivity by allowing one handle to serve multiple patients through sequential attachment of different disposable ends, rather than requiring separate complete endoscope systems for each patient.
4Ease of manufacture
If electronic endoscopes are used, then cost is reduced and materials are improved, but imaging quality deteriorates compared to optical endoscopes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs image processing algorithms that transform and enhance the captured images through digital processing. By applying computational techniques such as contrast enhancement, noise reduction, and detail reconstruction, the system achieves ultra-high-definition imaging quality from electronic sensors, bridging the gap between electronic manufacturing advantages and optical-level image quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an electronic flexible and rigid endoscope system and method applicable to general practice. The system comprises: a data acquisition system, configured to acquire image data of a lesion site, and a data processing system, configured to process the image data from the data acquisition system. The data acquisition system comprises a handle end and an endoscope end, the endoscope end comprises an imaging insertion end and an operating end, the imaging insertion end enters the lesion site to acquire images of the lesion site, the operating end controls the action of the imaging insertion end, the handle end sends the image data acquired by the endoscope end to the data processing system, the data processing system comprises a data receiving module and an image processing module, and the data receiving module receives the image data acquired by the data acquisition system.