Electrosurgical Hood Mechanism for Optical Window Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrosurgical instruments face issues with contamination of light passage windows due to tissue particles and depositions, which impede the functionality of optical elements, making them less effective over time.
Innovation Solution
The instrument incorporates a movable hood that surrounds the electrode and optical elements, allowing it to switch between a position that blocks lateral access to the light passage window for suction and cleaning, and a position that exposes it for easy manual cleaning, while maintaining suction functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cleaning brushes or lips are provided to clean the light passage window, then cleaning capability is improved, but the cleaning elements themselves become contaminated and less effective over time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning function from contact-based elements (brushes, lips) and replaces it with a fluid-based cleaning system. The fluid channel delivers cleaning fluid directly to the light passage window, eliminating the need for physical cleaning elements that become contaminated. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining cleaning capability without relying on reusable cleaning elements that degrade over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a fluid channel to deliver cleaning fluid to the light passage window. This hydraulic approach replaces mechanical cleaning elements with a fluid-based system that can continuously supply fresh cleaning medium, preventing contamination issues inherent in reusable brushes or lips while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
2Ease of operation
If the light passage window is exposed for cleaning, then cleaning accessibility is improved, but suction functionality is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cleaning and suction functions into separate delivery mechanisms. The fluid channel delivers cleaning fluid through a dedicated pathway that does not interfere with the suction opening. This allows the light passage window to be exposed for cleaning while the suction function continues to operate through its separate channel, resolving the contradiction between cleaning accessibility and suction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid channel acts as an intermediary system that delivers cleaning fluid without disrupting the suction pathway. By using a separate fluid delivery mechanism, the invention enables cleaning operations while maintaining suction functionality, as the cleaning fluid is delivered through its own dedicated channel rather than blocking the suction opening.
3Reliability
If the hood is fixed in position to maintain suction, then suction stability is improved, but cleaning accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the hood movable between a first position (blocking lateral access) and a second position (exposing the light passage window). This dynamic positioning allows the hood to adapt to different operational requirements: maintaining suction stability during operation by blocking access, and enabling cleaning accessibility when needed by moving to expose the window, thus resolving the contradiction between suction stability and cleaning accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the hood between two states: blocked position for suction stability and exposed position for cleaning accessibility. By varying the hood's position parameter, the system can optimize for either suction performance or cleaning access depending on the operational phase, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 ensures prolonged operability of the optical elements by preventing smearing or displacement of depositions, allowing for easy and effective cleaning without disrupting the suction process.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element (22) that is arranged at a light passage window (24)
Implementation Method 2
the electrode (18) is supplied with high frequency electrical current and acts on the tissue under production of an electrical spark
Implementation Method 3
the fluid channel (20) having an opening (21) at the distal end (13) that can particularly serve for suction of gases, vapors, fumes, tissue particles or the like produced at the operation location
Data Source
AI summary
Instruments having a hood that defines and surrounds a flow chamber. The flow chamber can serve for suction of emissions that are produced due to influence of an electrode supplied with high frequency voltage on biological tissue. For elimination of tissue deposition and other clogging from the flow chamber the electrode is surrounded by a movable hood that can be transitioned for cleaning purposes out of its operating position into a cleaning position.