Endoscope Check Valve for Sterilization Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face issues with negative pressure states during sterilization treatments, which can damage flexible components and hinder operability due to pressure differences between the internal and external spaces, requiring additional mechanisms to equalize pressures.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design featuring a check valve unit with a sterilization cap that rotates to open and close a communication path, allowing pressure equalization between the internal and external spaces, eliminating the need for separate ventilation valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a check valve mechanism is used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the internal space remains in negative pressure state causing damage to flexible components
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation valve is divided into separate functional components: a sterilization cap with threaded engagement, a valve body with check valve mechanism, and a bypass path. This segmentation allows the sterilization function to be isolated from the pressure equalization function, enabling the check valve to maintain sterilization effectiveness while the bypass path prevents negative pressure damage to flexible components.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass path acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the sterilization requirement (sealed environment) and the pressure protection requirement. By providing an alternative pressure equalization route that bypasses the check valve mechanism, it prevents the negative pressure state from damaging flexible components while maintaining the sterilization seal integrity.
2Strength
If a ventilation valve is added to equalize pressure, then flexible component damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization cap and ventilation valve are merged into a single integrated assembly. The sterilization cap threads onto the valve body, combining the sterilization sealing function with the pressure equalization function in one component assembly. This reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate sterilization and ventilation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization cap serves multiple functions: it seals the endoscope for sterilization, it engages with the valve body to open the communication path, and it can be rotated to control the bypass path. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining flexible component protection.
3Ease of operation
If the sterilization cap is rotated to open the communication path, then pressure equalization is achieved, but the check valve mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The sterilization cap rotation dynamically opens or closes the communication path and bypass path based on the operational state. This dynamic operation simplifies the check valve structure by using the rotation motion itself to control valve opening/closing rather than requiring separate actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization cap's rotation operation simultaneously performs multiple functions: it opens the communication path for pressure equalization, it controls the bypass path, and it maintains the seal. This self-service mechanism reduces check valve complexity by using the same operational motion to achieve pressure equalization without requiring additional valve actuation components.
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 solution effectively prevents damage to flexible components and ensures operability by equalizing pressures within the endoscope, simplifying the sterilization process and reducing the risk of component deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve section that performs opening and closing operations according to a pressure difference between the inner side space and the outer side space
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes a partition wall to shield an inner side space and an outer side space, a cylindrical body including an internal wall surface coupled to the partition wall to be capable of being water tight, and forming a communication hole communicating with the inner side space, and including a through-hole piercing through the internal wall surface to an outer circumference, a valve body fixed to the communication hole keeping watertightness and including a check valve section opening and closing according to a pressure difference between the inner side space and the outer side space, a first frame body provided on an outer circumference side of the cylindrical body and is capable of operating in an axial direction of the cylindrical body, a second frame body sheathed over the cylindrical body and the first frame body keeping watertightness, and forming a first space communicating with the through-hole.