Disposable Endoscopic Resection Handpiece Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic 'shavers' require complex and time-consuming sterilization and maintenance processes due to the need for separate sterilization of the handpiece, wire, and non-sterilizable components, which increases operational burden and reduces the useful life of sterilizable components.
Innovation Solution
A device with a handpiece containing all necessary control and electric feeding components, including a brushless motor and electronic circuit, allowing the handpiece to be disposable and eliminating the need for frequent sterilization and maintenance of the handpiece and wire, while the reusable guide means are housed within a removable body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the handpiece and wire are made reusable and sterilized, then the device can be used multiple times, but the sterilization process is time-consuming and increases operational burden
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for sterilization. This resolves the contradiction by sacrificing the reusable aspect to eliminate time-consuming sterilization processes, allowing the device to be quickly exchanged between patients without cleaning cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into disposable and reusable segments. The handpiece and wire are disposable, while the guide means and motor assembly are reusable. This segmentation allows the critical reusable components to be sterilized separately from the single-use handpiece, reducing the overall time commitment for sterilization while maintaining device longevity for the reusable portions.
2Reliability
If separate sterilization of handpiece, wire, and non-sterilizable components is performed, then sterility is maintained, but operational personnel requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By making the handpiece disposable, the patent eliminates the need for personnel to sterilize this component. The disposable nature ensures sterility through single-use packaging while removing the complexity of sterilization procedures, reducing both personnel requirements and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The handpiece and wire are extracted from the sterilization process entirely. These components are designed to be discarded after use, separating them from the reusable guide means that do require sterilization. This extraction simplifies the overall sterilization process by removing the most time-consuming and complex components from the cycle.
3Loss of time
If the handpiece is made disposable, then sterilization time and personnel requirements are reduced, but the handpiece cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is intentionally designed with a short operational life (single use) to eliminate sterilization requirements. The disposable nature accepts the limitation of not being reusable in exchange for dramatically reduced time loss and operational complexity, making the trade-off worthwhile in the surgical context.
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 design reduces the operational personnel required, minimizes time and space consumption for sterilization and storage, and extends the useful life of the device by making only the handpiece disposable and single-use.
Implementation Method 1
The rotary action of the internal tubular element produces by abrasion the removal or the finishing of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
guide means for rotating and/or oscillating said internal tubular element with respect to said external tubular element; wherein said guide means comprise an electric motor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1 ) for treatments of endoscopic resection/removal of tissues, comprising: - a handpiece apt to be held by an user; - an external tubular element (3) comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a cutting aperture disposed at said distal end; - an internal tubular element (4) apt to be pivotally housed in said external tubular element (3) and comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a cutting tip at its distal end. - guide means (5) for rotating and/or oscillating said internal tubular element (4) with respect to said external tubular element (3); said guide means comprising an electric motor. At least one between said handpiece (2) and said guide means (5) is disposable.