Endoscope Working Channel Unclogging With Flow-Sensed Irrigation Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes often experience clogging in their working channels during procedures, leading to reduced efficiency, increased procedure time, and potential harm to internal organs due to uncontrolled pressure changes, as conventional unclogging methods require external flushing and can impose excessive pressure on anatomical sites.
Innovation Solution
An unclogging system that uses a flow sensor to detect clogging and automatically adjusts irrigation and suction sources to maintain desired pressure levels, alternating between irrigation fluid and suction pressure to unclog channels efficiently and safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external flushing is used to unclog channels, then clogging is removed, but excessive pressure is imposed on anatomical sites
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the endoscope's own irrigation and suction channels to unclog itself by alternating between irrigation fluid and suction pressure, eliminating the need for external flushing that would impose excessive pressure on anatomical sites
Solution Approach 2:
The control module alternates between applying irrigation fluid and applying suction pressure through the working channel in periodic cycles to effectively remove clogs while maintaining pressure control at the anatomical site
2Reliability
If conventional unclogging methods are used, then channels are cleared, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic self-unclogging system eliminates manual intervention and external flushing procedures, allowing the endoscope to clear its own channels during the procedure, thereby reducing overall procedure time
Solution Approach 2:
The flow sensor provides real-time feedback on channel flow conditions to the control module, enabling automatic detection of clogging and immediate initiation of unclogging cycles without manual intervention or procedure delays
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic pressure control is implemented during unclogging, then safety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation and suction channels serve dual purposes: normal operation during endoscopic procedures and self-unclogging functions, eliminating the need for separate unclogging equipment and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system performs its own pressure control during unclogging using its existing irrigation and suction capabilities, eliminating the need for additional external pressure control devices
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
The system effectively unclogs endoscope channels while maintaining controlled pressure, reducing procedure time and improving safety by preventing hazardous pressure changes on internal organs.
Implementation Method 1
a flow sensor configured to sense a flow rate through a working channel of an endoscope
Implementation Method 2
control an irrigation source to deliver irrigation fluid through the working channel in response to the presence of clogging
Implementation Method 3
control a suction source to apply suction pressure to the working channel in response to the presence of clogging
Implementation Method 4
The control module can automatically adjust one or more of an irrigation flow rate or a suction flow rate through the working channel to maintain the pressure of an anatomical environment at the anatomical site at substantially a desired pressure level
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of in situ unclogging a working channel in a medical device during a procedure are disclosed. An exemplary unclogging system comprises a flow sensor to sense a flow rate through a working channel, and a control module to detect a channel state indicating a presence or absence of clogging based on the flow rate. In the presence of channel clogging, the control module can control one or more of an irrigation source or a suction source to provide respectively irrigation fluid or suction pressure to unclog the obstructed channel. The control module can adjust one or more of an irrigation flow rate or a suction flow rate through the working channel to maintain a desired pressure of the anatomical environment at the anatomical site, or to maintain a desired flow condition in the working channel, during the procedure.