Endoscope Air-Supply System with Synchronized Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope air-supply systems require frequent manual operation to maintain constant pressure within a lumen, and attachment of body fluids to pressure sensors impairs accurate pressure measurement, leading to suboptimal observation and treatment conditions.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope air-supply system incorporating a gas supply device, pressure measurement device, flushing device, and instruction device that synchronizes flushing with pressure measurement to remove attached matter, allowing for precise pressure measurement and automatic adjustment of gas supply to maintain appropriate pressure within the lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operation of air-supply button is used to maintain constant pressure in lumen, then gas supply can be controlled, but frequent operator intervention is required which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically measuring pressure through the pressure sensor and controlling gas supply via the control unit without requiring continuous manual intervention. The air-supply button operates automatically based on pressure feedback, eliminating the need for frequent operator actions while maintaining reliable constant pressure in the lumen.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensor is exposed to measure lumen pressure, then accurate pressure measurement is enabled, but body fluid attachment to sensor makes measurement impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the pressure sensor measures pressure indirectly through the air-supply duct rather than direct exposure to the lumen environment. This intermediary approach allows accurate pressure measurement while preventing body fluids from contaminating the sensor, maintaining both measurement precision and reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If gas supply is increased to maintain lumen pressure, then observation field is secured, but patient strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback control where the pressure sensor continuously monitors lumen pressure and the control unit adjusts gas supply accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that gas is supplied only when needed to maintain appropriate pressure for observation, preventing excessive gas supply that would increase patient strain while still securing adequate observation field area.
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
Enables precise intraluminal pressure measurement and automatic control of gas supply, reducing the need for frequent operator intervention and minimizing strain on the subject by ensuring consistent pressure during endoscope procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of the gas
Implementation Method 2
a flushing device that supplies gas for flushing to the air-supply duct
Data Source
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AI summary
When observation or treatment in a lumen is performed by an endoscope, pressure in the lumen is measured precisely and air supply is performed so as to keep the pressure appropriate. An endoscope air-supply system is provided which includes a gas supply device which supplies predetermined gas to a lumen of a subject through an air-supply duct; a pressure measurement device which measures pressure in the lumen and which is connected through a duct for pressure measurement communicating with the lumen; a flushing device which supplies gas for flushing to the duct for pressure measurement; and an instruction device which instructs the pressure measurement device to perform pressure measurement and which instructs the flushing device to supply the gas for flushing in synchronism with the pressure measurement by the pressure measurement device.