Endoscope Protective Cap With Hinged Latch and Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes are prone to damage during disinfection, sterilization, transportation, and storage due to their delicate electronics and components, leading to costly repairs and potential disruptions in medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A protective cap with a hinged design, featuring liners with radial projections and a latching mechanism, is used to securely cover the distal end of endoscopes, preventing impact and allowing for fluid and gas passage, thereby safeguarding the instrument during handling and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If endoscopes are frequently disinfected and sterilized, then infection control is improved, but damage to delicate electronics and components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is placed on the endoscope tip before sterilization and disinfection processes begin. This preliminary protective action prevents direct exposure of delicate electronics and components to harsh sterilization agents and physical damage during handling, while still allowing the sterilization process to proceed effectively on the rest of the instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap includes cushioning material positioned between the rigid cap walls and the endoscope tip. This cushioning layer absorbs impact forces and prevents direct contact between hard surfaces during transportation and handling, thereby protecting sensitive components from impact damage while maintaining the cap's structural integrity during sterilization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cap design includes secure latching mechanisms, then protection during transportation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into multiple functional segments: a rigid outer shell for impact resistance, cushioning material for shock absorption, and a separate latching mechanism for secure closure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall design manageable and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism acts as an intermediary element that connects the cap halves securely without requiring complex fastening systems. The latch provides a simple yet effective means of securing the cap during transportation, balancing protection needs with design simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cap is designed to be removable for sterilization, then ease of cleaning is improved, but risk of damage during removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is designed to be placed on the endoscope tip before sterilization procedures begin. This preliminary placement allows the cap to remain in position during the sterilization process, eliminating the need for removal and reattachment, thereby preventing damage that could occur during these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap design allows the sterilization process to be applied directly to the capped endoscope without requiring removal of the cap. The cap itself becomes part of the sterilization target, and its removable design enables it to be sterilized separately if needed, making the system self-sufficient in maintaining protection throughout the sterilization cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a cap for protecting an imaging instrument from damage caused by impact or poor handling. Exemplary devices can include a rigid outer shell and soft inner lining surrounding a distal tip of the instrument, to be applied between instrument use, and during instrument transport, disinfection, sterilization, and storage.