Endoscope Working Channel Unclogging With Flow-Sensed Irrigation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic procedures face inefficiencies and safety risks due to clogging of working channels in endoscopes, which can lead to increased procedure time, organ damage, and patient risk, as existing unclogging methods often require external flushing and may impose excessive pressure on internal organs.
Innovation Solution
An unclogging system that uses a flow sensor and control module to detect clogging in endoscope channels and applies irrigation fluid or suction pressure to unclog them while maintaining anatomical site pressure, allowing for in situ unclogging and minimizing hazardous pressure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external flushing is used to unclog endoscope channels, then clogging is removed, but excessive pressure is imposed on internal organs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid delivery system that acts as an intermediary between the unclogging need and the anatomical site. Irrigation fluid is delivered through the endoscope's working channel to break down the clog from within, rather than applying external pressure. This intermediary fluid approach allows gentle dissolution of obstructions without transmitting harmful pressure waves to surrounding organs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical external flushing system with a fluid-based chemical/biological dissolution approach. Instead of using high-pressure mechanical forces to clear clogs, the system employs irrigation fluid that can chemically or enzymatically break down tissue debris and obstructions, substituting mechanical stress with a gentler fluid-mediated process.
2Reliability
If unclogging procedures are delayed, then organ damage and patient risk increase, but immediate unclogging may cause pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action through controlled irrigation cycles. The system delivers irrigation fluid in controlled pulses or cycles, allowing the fluid to gradually break down the clog over time rather than attempting immediate clearance. This periodic delivery pattern prevents sudden pressure spikes while maintaining progressive unclogging, balancing patient safety with effective obstruction removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by delivering irrigation fluid to soften and break down the clog before attempting full clearance. The system prepares the obstruction by pre-treating it with irrigation fluid that dissolves or loosens the material, making subsequent removal easier and safer. This preliminary softening phase reduces the force needed for final clearance, minimizing pressure fluctuations.
3Measurement precision
If manual monitoring of channel clogging is used, then detection is possible, but procedure time increases due to frequent checks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor parameters such as flow rate, pressure, or resistance in the endoscope's working channels. When these parameters indicate clogging conditions, the system automatically triggers unclogging protocols. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual monitoring while maintaining high detection accuracy, thereby reducing procedure time without sacrificing safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing the endoscope system to autonomously detect and respond to clogging conditions. The integrated sensors and control systems automatically identify obstructions and initiate appropriate unclogging actions without requiring clinician intervention for each check. This self-monitoring and self-correcting capability significantly reduces the time clinicians would otherwise spend manually checking channels while maintaining continuous surveillance.
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 efficiently unclogs endoscope channels during procedures, reducing procedure time and improving patient safety by maintaining controlled pressure and preventing excessive 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
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 the working channel to unclog the working channel
Implementation Method 3
provide respectively irrigation fluid or suction pressure to the working channel to unclog the working channel
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.