Endoscope Flush Valve Assembly for Fast Pre-Cleaning Switchovers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopic systems require time-consuming and labor-intensive steps for replacing and reprocessing air/water procedural valves, which complicates the cleaning and infection prevention process after procedures.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic valve system with a modular design that allows for easy configuration changes between air and water flow configurations, using a valve stem with sealing members and a gating member to direct airflow and waterflow, enabling efficient switching between procedural and pre-cleaning modes without the need for valve replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional endoscopic systems use separate procedural valve and air/water pre-cleaning valve, then infection prevention is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the procedural valve and air/water pre-cleaning valve into a single integrated valve assembly. The valve body contains multiple internal passages that can be configured to provide either procedural function or pre-cleaning function through the movement of a gating member, eliminating the need for separate valves and reducing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve assembly serves multiple functions: it can operate as a procedural valve during medical procedures and as an air/water pre-cleaning valve for infection prevention. The gating member allows switching between different flow paths to achieve different functions with a single device.
2Reliability
If conventional systems require valve replacement for pre-cleaning, then infection prevention is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates a movable gating member that can be dynamically repositioned to switch between procedural mode and pre-cleaning mode. This dynamic configuration allows the same physical valve to change its flow path without requiring replacement, saving time while maintaining infection prevention capabilities.
3Device complexity
If conventional systems use integrated valve design, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple functional zones with separate passages for air flow and water flow. The gating member is segmented into portions that can independently control different passages, allowing flexible configuration of air and water flow paths while maintaining a unified valve structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems and methods for air/water and flushing valves. For example, an endoscopic valve of the present disclosure may include a valve stem with contiguous first and second channels and with first and second ports formed within a sidewall of the valve stem. A series of seals may be disposed around an outer surface of the valve stem proximal and distal to the first and second ports. A gating member may be slidably disposed within the proximal channel and a valve insert may be disposed between the proximal and distal channels.