Endoscope Cleaning Fluid Control With Discharge Volume Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive medical procedures require effective cleaning of imaging instruments to maintain a clear field of view, but existing systems lack precise control over fluid delivery and debris removal during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fluid reservoir, valve system, vent, and flow sensor, controlled by a processor to manage fluid delivery and determine discharged volume, ensuring predictable and safe cleaning of imaging instruments within the patient anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluid delivery is increased to improve cleaning effectiveness, then cleaning performance is improved, but risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a flow sensor that provides real-time feedback on fluid discharge volume and a pressure sensor that monitors pressure within the catheter. This feedback loop enables the control system to adjust fluid delivery parameters dynamically, ensuring effective cleaning while preventing excessive pressure or volume that could cause tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fluid delivery to dynamic control, where fluid volume and pressure are continuously adjusted based on real-time sensor data. The control system can modify delivery parameters on-the-fly to optimize cleaning effectiveness while maintaining safety margins to prevent tissue damage.
2Reliability
If fluid volume is increased to improve cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor provides real-time measurement of fluid discharge volume, enabling the control system to monitor and optimize fluid consumption. The system can adjust delivery parameters to achieve effective cleaning with minimal fluid usage by maintaining just sufficient flow rates rather than excessive volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes fluid delivery by changing parameters such as flow rate, pressure, and duration to achieve effective cleaning with reduced total fluid volume. Rather than using high volume at low efficiency, the system uses precisely controlled parameters to maximize cleaning effectiveness per unit of fluid consumed.
3Reliability
If fluid pressure is increased to improve debris removal, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but risk of forcing debris into tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor provides real-time monitoring of fluid pressure within the catheter, enabling the control system to maintain pressure within safe thresholds that effectively remove debris without forcing it into surrounding tissue. The feedback loop allows dynamic adjustment to prevent harmful pressure spikes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic pressure control rather than static high pressure, adjusting fluid delivery pressure in real-time based on resistance encountered and tissue conditions. This allows effective debris removal at variable pressures that remain within safe limits to prevent tissue injury.
4Device complexity
If manual fluid delivery control is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision and control accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical fluid delivery control with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and a control processor. This substitution enables precise measurement of fluid volume and pressure through electronic sensors, achieving measurement precision that far exceeds what is possible with manual control while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling fluid delivery to a medical instrument comprises releasing, from a reservoir of a known size and having fluid at a volume and a first fluid pressure, a released fluid volume of the fluid to the medical instrument. The method also comprises measuring a vented fluid volume and determining a discharged fluid volume through the medical instrument based on the released fluid volume and the vented fluid volume.