Disposable Piezoelectric Sensor Pod for Medical Stenosis Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric sensors used in medical devices are prone to wear and damage, requiring frequent replacement to maintain accuracy and sterility, as they are sensitive to harsh cleaning chemicals and can be accidentally damaged, necessitating easy replacement mechanisms to ensure reliable operation.
Innovation Solution
The development of disposable sensor pods with piezoelectric elements, contact boards, and diaphragm bellows membranes, which are designed for quick attachment and detachment to a base component, allowing for easy replacement and ensuring the device's reliability and sterility, along with a sensor array that can securely hold these pods and facilitate their replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piezoelectric sensors are reused and cleaned with harsh chemicals, then device cost is reduced, but sensor reliability and accuracy deteriorate due to wear and chemical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into reusable components (base unit, processing electronics) and disposable components (sensor pod containing piezoelectric element). This segmentation allows the sensitive piezoelectric sensor to be easily replaced without wasting the expensive electronic components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor pod containing the piezoelectric element is designed as a disposable component that is replaced when worn or damaged. This eliminates the need to clean and maintain the sensitive piezoelectric sensor with harsh chemicals, maintaining reliability while keeping the overall device cost-effective through selective disposal of only the consumable part.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If piezoelectric sensors are replaced frequently to maintain sterility, then infection risk is reduced, but device complexity increases due to replacement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor pod is designed as a separate, self-contained module that can be easily detached and replaced. This segmentation simplifies the replacement process compared to integrating the sensor permanently, allowing frequent replacement for sterility without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a complex sterilization system to maintain the sensor, the invention inverts the approach by making the sensor pod disposable. This eliminates the need for complex sterilization mechanisms while achieving the same goal of preventing infection through frequent replacement.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If piezoelectric sensors are made durable for long-term use, then replacement frequency is reduced, but sensitivity to chemical cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric sensor in the disposable pod is not required to be durable against harsh chemicals because it is replaced rather than cleaned. This allows the use of sensitive but highly accurate piezoelectric materials without compromising chemical resistance, as the entire pod is discarded after use rather than subjected to harsh cleaning agents.
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 enables the frequent and sanitary replacement of piezoelectric sensors, ensuring consistent data accuracy and device reliability by allowing for easy identification and replacement of worn-out or damaged components, thereby maintaining the device's operational integrity and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor is mounted to the cap on one card, and the contact board mounted on the opposing end of the cap, wherein the cap comprises attachment means to secure to a base component, together defining a sensor pod
Data Source
AI summary
A device for detecting stenosis comprising disposable components to ensure function and sanitary conditions, said device having a disposable sensing pad, a disposable piezo assembly, and a disposable sensing pod; wherein the entire device can be disposed of after a predetermined number of uses to ensure accuracy of results and of sanitary conditions.