Disposable Laser Endoscope Probe with Segmented Hand Piece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical laser video endoscopes are expensive due to reusable image guides, leading to potential infection risks from sterilization errors and probe fragility, especially when used through smaller 23 gauge sleeves, which are prone to breakage.
Innovation Solution
Designing endoscopes with a probe that can be disposed of after each use, featuring a hand piece with channels for laser, illumination, and image guides, allowing insertion through a 23 gauge sleeve while maintaining robustness and familiar operating characteristics, and separating the camera assembly for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endoscope is made reusable with expensive image guides, then the cost of disposal is reduced, but the risk of infection from sterilization errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into two separable parts: a reusable hand piece containing the expensive image guide and camera, and a disposable probe. This segmentation allows the critical imaging components to be reused while the probe that enters the body is discarded after single use, eliminating sterilization risks while controlling costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe is designed as a disposable, single-use component that is discarded after each procedure. This eliminates the need for sterilization of the probe portion, completely removing the infection risk associated with sterilization errors, while the expensive reusable components are isolated in the hand piece.
2Length of moving object
If the probe diameter is reduced to fit through a 23 gauge sleeve, then the incision size is reduced and recovery time is quicker, but the probe becomes fragile and prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is segmented into a distal portion for insertion through the 23 gauge sleeve and a proximal portion with greater diameter for robustness. The connection between these portions is designed to be the weakest point, ensuring that if breakage occurs, it happens in the connection area rather than in the delicate distal portion inside the patient's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe design anticipates potential breakage by intentionally creating a predetermined weak point at the connection between distal and proximal portions. This ensures that any fracture occurs in a controlled location outside the patient's body, protecting the critical distal portion from damage during insertion and use.
3Reliability
If the probe is made disposable to eliminate sterilization risks, then the infection risk is reduced, but the cost of the endoscope system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expensive image guide and camera are segregated into a reusable hand piece that can be sterilized and reused, while only the disposable probe is discarded. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both disposable probe safety and reusable component cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable hand piece can accommodate multiple different disposable probes, allowing the expensive imaging system to serve multiple procedures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall cost by reusing the expensive components across multiple patients and procedures.
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 cost and risk of infection by allowing probe disposal after each use, minimizing breakage, and enabling quicker recovery with smaller incisions while maintaining effective imaging and illumination.
Implementation Method 1
laser guide, an illumination guide and an image guide extending through a probe portions of the endoscope
Implementation Method 2
laser guide, an illumination guide and an image guide extending through a probe portions of the endoscope
Implementation Method 3
laser guide, an illumination guide and an image guide extending through a probe portions of the endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
Laser video endoscope has laser guide, illumination guide and image guide which extend through optical probe and through hand piece that supports the probe. Hand piece is connected by optical fiber cable to laser energy source and illumination source. Image is transmitted from hand piece to image processing interface by camera assembly optically coupled and mounted directly to hand piece and via electrical cable extending from camera assembly. Camera and its electrical cable can be uncoupled from hand piece and reused. The rest of the product, including probe and hand piece, can be disposed of after each medical routine. Probe can have proximal portion and distal portion such that proximal portion extends from distal end of hand piece, and outside diameter of proximal portion as measured at least near the distal end of hand piece is greater than the outside diameter of the distal portion.