Endoscope Tip Cleaning Control for Smoke-Obscured Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopic procedures are hindered by smoke interference with the surgical site image, and there is a need for a fast, easy, and reliable method to maintain image quality during such procedures.

Innovation Solution

A surgical system with a system controller that automatically enhances video images by interacting with a video enhancer and other surgical devices to address conditions like smoke interference, ensuring improved image quality without manual user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If smoke is generated during endoscopic procedures to facilitate tissue manipulation, then surgical operations can be performed, but image quality deteriorates due to smoke interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical operation capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects smoke presence and automatically activates the video enhancer to compensate for image degradation, converting the harmful effect of smoke into a controlled parameter that triggers automated image quality restoration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors video image quality and smoke conditions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the video enhancer settings and maintain optimal image quality throughout the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If manual control of video enhancement is used, then image quality can be improved, but procedure time increases and operator workload increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The video enhancer system operates autonomously based on smoke detection, eliminating the need for operator intervention and automatically maintaining image quality without adding to procedure time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively activates image enhancement before severe smoke accumulation occurs, preventing image degradation rather than reacting to it, thereby maintaining continuous optimal viewing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If automated smoke detection and response is implemented, then image quality is maintained without manual intervention, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic video enhancementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The smoke detection and video enhancement functions are merged into a single integrated system that operates autonomously, reducing the need for separate manual controls and simplifying the overall user interface despite the increased automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12582500B2Methods and systems to automate surgical interventions

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 STRYKER CORP

AI summary

An imaging system for viewing a surgical site, the imaging system including a system controller configured to: receive and process video images of the surgical site captured by an endoscopic camera coupled to an endoscope to detect at least one video signature corresponding to at least one condition that interferes with a quality of the video images; and in response to detecting the at least one video signature corresponding to the at least one condition that interferes with the quality of the video images, control a fluid system to clean a tip of the endoscope based on at least one learned preference that was learned by the system controller from user action over time.