Disposable Endoscopic Access Device with USB Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic and intubation devices are non-portable, expensive, and pose challenges in emergency situations due to limited disposability, leading to poor success rates and increased risk of infection from improper cleaning, with manual visualization being difficult and often impossible in emergency cases.
Innovation Solution
A completely disposable, pluggable, and removable opto-electronic illumination and vision system using solid state light sources and image capture devices, integrated with an access channel for medical instruments, that can be easily disposed of after use, connected via USB for power and control, enabling portable and sterile visualization in minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional endoscopic devices are used, then visualization capability is provided, but device portability and disposability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two main segments: a disposable endoscopic access device containing the endoscope, illumination, and imaging components, and a reusable control unit for power supply and video display. This segmentation allows the sterile disposable portion to be discarded after use, eliminating cleaning and sterilization complexity while maintaining visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscopic access device is designed as a completely disposable unit that can be discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance procedures, reducing infection risk while providing reliable visualization capability for each procedure.
2Measurement precision
If expensive video intubation devices are used, then visualization capability is improved, but cost and availability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed as a universal platform that can support multiple disposable endoscopic access devices. The standardized USB connection and power interface allow a single control unit to be used with various disposable scopes, reducing overall system cost and improving availability without compromising visualization quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the endoscopic access device disposable rather than reusable, the system eliminates expensive cleaning, sterilization, and maintenance infrastructure. The low-cost disposable design allows hospitals to stock multiple units without significant financial burden, improving availability for emergency procedures.
3Ease of operation
If manual visualization is used in emergency situations, then equipment setup is simple, but success rate and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable endoscopic access device is pre-assembled with the endoscope, illumination sources, and imaging components already integrated and tested. In emergency situations, the practitioner simply needs to connect the pre-packaged device to the control unit and begin use, eliminating complex setup procedures while ensuring reliable visualization for successful intubation.
4Ease of manufacture
If reusable endoscopic equipment is used, then cost is reduced, but infection risk and cleaning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscopic access device is designed as a low-cost disposable unit that can be discarded after single use. This eliminates all infection risks associated with reusable equipment while keeping costs manageable through the use of inexpensive components such as USB-powered illumination and standard imaging sensors.
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 a cost-effective, portable, and sterile visualization system that reduces the risk of infection, improves success rates in emergency intubations, and allows for easy setup and disposal, enhancing the portability and availability of endoscopic equipment.
Implementation Method 1
equipped with an access channel, and means for suction and delivery of medication or lubricant to the endoscopic field. The device to be externally plugged into a control unit for display of endoscopic video
Implementation Method 2
solid state illumination, image capture, equipped with an access channel
Data Source
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AI summary
Various embodiments for providing removable, pluggable and disposable optoelectronic modules for illumination and imaging for endoscopy or borescopy are provided for use with portable display devices. Generally, various rigid, flexible or expandable single use medical or industrial devices with an access channel, can include one or more solid state or other compact electro-optic illuminating elements located thereon. Additionally, such opto-electronic modules may include illuminating optics, imaging optics, and/or image capture devices, and airtight means for suction and delivery within the device. The illuminating elements may have different wavelengths and can be time-synchronized with an image sensor to illuminate an object for 2D and 3D imaging, or for certain diagnostic purposes.