Ear Disimpactor Using Warm Water Irrigation and Rotary Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disimpacting cerumen and debris from the ear canal are painful and time-consuming, often requiring manual removal with curettes, which can cause abrasions and bleeding, and are frequently unsuccessful, necessitating repeat visits.
Innovation Solution
An ear disimpactor that uses warm water irrigation combined with a rotating drill bit and suction to create a cyclonic action, grinding impacted material into a suspension for easy removal, thereby reducing pain and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual curette removal is used to disimpact material from the ear canal, then the procedure can be performed with simple equipment, but it causes pain, abrasions, and bleeding to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical curette system with an automated rotary brush system powered by a motor. The rotary brush automatically rotates to loosen and remove impacted material, eliminating the need for manual manipulation that causes pain and tissue damage. The system substitutes human hand-operated mechanical removal with an automated rotational mechanical system that is gentler on the ear canal walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water irrigation system that delivers water through a nozzle to hydrate and soften impacted material during removal. This hydraulic element helps lubricate the removal process, reducing friction and mechanical stress on the ear canal walls, thereby minimizing pain and tissue damage while facilitating easier material removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If water irrigation with a syringe is used to disimpact material, then the equipment is simple, but the procedure is uncomfortable for the patient and often unsuccessful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotary brush that rotates at controlled speeds to dynamically loosen impacted material. This rotational motion continuously agitates and breaks down the impaction, making it easier to remove. The dynamic rotational action is more effective than static water irrigation alone, significantly improving the success rate of disimpaction while remaining gentle on the ear canal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: water irrigation, rotary brush mechanical action, and suction removal. This merged system addresses the limitations of simple water irrigation by adding mechanical loosening action and immediate suction removal, creating a comprehensive solution that is both comfortable for the patient and highly effective at removing impacted material.
3Device complexity
If manual curette technique is used, then the device is simple, but the procedure is time-consuming and often requires repeat visits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous process where the rotary brush continuously loosens material while suction continuously removes it. This continuous dual action eliminates the stop-and-start nature of manual curette techniques, allowing for more efficient and complete removal in a single procedure. The continuous suction prevents material from re-impacting, ensuring complete removal and reducing the need for repeat visits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional device that performs irrigation, mechanical loosening via rotary brush, and suction removal all in one system. This universal device handles various types of impacted material (cerumen, insects, debris) effectively in a single procedure, improving productivity and eliminating the need for multiple separate interventions or repeat visits that would be required with simpler manual techniques.
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
The ear disimpactor effectively disimpacts cerumen and debris from the ear canal with minimal discomfort and pain, using a combination of warm water irrigation and suction to create a cyclonic action that loosens and removes impacted material without the need for manual extraction.
Implementation Method 1
The warm water irrigation unit provides warm water to the ear canal through the warm water line
Implementation Method 2
a rotating drill bit to grind the impacted material into a impacted material-water suspension, hereafter referred to as a suspension, by creating a cyclonic action inside the ear canal to loosen and allow removal of the impacted material from the ear canal by a suction unit
Implementation Method 3
The suction unit is in communication with the suspension suction tube and is configured to suction the suspension from the ear canal to a debris container
Data Source
AI summary
An ear disimpactor for disimpacting material impacted in an ear canal and against a tympanic membrane, is disclosed. The impacted material comprises cerumen, insects, and other debris. The ear disimpactor comprises a housing, a warm water irrigation unit, and a suction unit. The housing comprises an ear speculum attached to an outer surface of the housing, a motorized auger comprising a drill bit extending from the motorized auger to a tip of the ear speculum, a warm water line extending from the tip of the ear speculum and across a length of the housing, and a suspension suction tube extending from the tip of the speculum and across the length of the housing. The warm water irrigation unit provides warm water to the ear canal through the warm water line and the suction unit sucks out suspension from the ear canal.