Endoscope Channel Patency Testing via Pressure Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope washing machines face challenges in accurately determining the patency of endoscope channels during mechanical cleaning and disinfection, as current methods require complex pressure gauge measurements and struggle to distinguish between different stages of patency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sequence of pressure pulses applied to the endoscope channel, using a switching valve controlled by a pulse sequence, allows for easy differentiation between channel patency states by measuring pressure pulses, with distinct results for open, blocked, and unconnected channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sequence of pressure pulses is applied using a switching valve, then the ease of operation and clarity of results is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the valve and control circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pressure pulses to the channel instead of continuous pressure. The switching valve opens and closes in a pulse sequence, creating distinct pressure peaks that are easily distinguishable. This periodic action transforms the measurement into a simple pulse height comparison, where open channels show full-pressure pulses and blocked channels show reduced or absent pulses, greatly simplifying the determination of channel patency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from continuous pressure monitoring to pulse height measurement. By applying periodic pressure and measuring the height of resulting pressure pulses, the system converts a complex continuous measurement into discrete, easily interpretable values. The pulse height directly indicates channel patency status, with three distinct patterns corresponding to open, blocked, or disconnected channels.
2Measurement precision
If accurate pressure measurement is performed to determine channel patency, then the measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the need for very accurate pressure gauges
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic pressure pulses create distinct, time-separated measurement events that are easier to detect and measure accurately. Each pulse generates a clear pressure peak that can be measured independently, reducing the impact of noise and drift that plague continuous measurements. The switching valve's periodic operation creates well-defined measurement points in time, simplifying the detection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from measuring continuous pressure to measuring pulse height parameters. This transformation converts a difficult continuous measurement requiring high-precision gauges into a simpler discrete measurement of pressure differential or pulse amplitude. The switching valve creates large, easily measurable pressure changes that exceed the resolution requirements of standard pressure sensors.
3Reliability
If continuous pressure monitoring is used to check channel patency, then the reliability of detection is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the complex measurement process
Solution Approach 1:
The periodic pressure pulses enable rapid sequential testing of multiple channels or repeated testing of the same channel. Each pulse provides an immediate indication of channel status, allowing for quick determination of patency. The time-separated pulses create distinct measurement events that can be processed rapidly, reducing the total time required compared to continuous monitoring that requires extensive data analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for patency determination from the pressure signal - specifically the pulse height or amplitude. By focusing only on this key parameter rather than analyzing the entire continuous pressure profile, the system achieves reliable detection with minimal measurement time. The switching valve isolates the critical measurement moment, allowing quick assessment without prolonged monitoring.
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 approach provides clear and simple results for determining channel continuity, enabling quick and accurate assessment even by inexperienced personnel, using only relative and absolute pulse heights, and is effective in distinguishing between normal, blocked, and unconnected channels.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic volume expandability of the connecting line ensures a certain amount of pressure storage when the switching valve is closed, so that if the channel is blocked, the pressure remains high even when the valve is closed.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for testing the patency of an endoscopic channel (9) in an endoscope washing machine, the entrance (7) of the channel (9) being pressurized and then blocked, whereupon the pressure change at the entrance (7) is measured, characterized in that the channel (9) is pressurized using a sequence of pressure pulses (21, 31, 41), and the maximum and minimum values (23, 22) thereof are determined.