Endoscope Cleaning Sheath With Integral Navigation Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes lack integral navigation sensors, making it difficult to incorporate compatibility with image-guided surgery (IGS) navigation systems, which are essential for precise instrument positioning during medical procedures, especially in complex anatomical areas where direct visualization is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning sleeve with integral navigation sensors is designed to be removably secured to endoscopes, providing navigation capabilities and enhancing the compatibility of endoscopic instruments with IGS navigation systems by communicating positional data in real-time, thus facilitating precise instrument placement and anatomical mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If endoscopes are designed without integral navigation sensors, then the device structure remains simple and cost-effective, but compatibility with IGS navigation systems is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation sensor is separated from the endoscope and integrated into the cleaning sleeve instead. This segmentation allows the endoscope to remain simple while the cleaning sleeve provides the navigation functionality, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning sleeve is designed to serve multiple functions: it cleans the endoscope window, provides navigation sensor integration, and enables IGS compatibility. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address both cleaning needs and navigation requirements without complicating the endoscope itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If navigation sensors are integrated into the cleaning sleeve, then IGS compatibility is achieved, but the cleaning sleeve becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation sensor, cleaning sleeve, and endoscope are merged into an integrated assembly where the cleaning sleeve serves as the housing for the navigation sensor. This merging approach consolidates multiple functions into a single coordinated unit, managing complexity through integration rather than separation.
3Ease of operation
If cleaning sleeve is removably secured to endoscope, then ease of replacement and sterilization is improved, but connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the cleaning sleeve and endoscope is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed - it can be easily attached and detached for sterilization or replacement, yet maintains reliable connection during use. The removable coupling mechanism provides both ease of operation and sufficient reliability for surgical applications.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use with an endoscope or other ENT instrument includes a hub, a shaft assembly, and one or more navigation sensors. The hub being configured to receive a portion of the endoscope and including a fluid port. The shaft assembly extends from the hub and defines a hollow interior. The hollow interior is configured to receive a tubular portion of the endoscope and communicate fluid within the shaft assembly to an open distal end of the shaft assembly. At least one of the one or more navigation sensors is disposed proximate the distal end of the shaft assembly. The one or more navigation sensors are configured to communicate with an IGS navigation system to locate at least a portion of the shaft assembly in three dimensional space.