Disposable Endoscope Imaging Unit Segmentation for Infection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of endoscopes, particularly due to expensive imaging units, make it challenging to create disposable endoscopes that can maintain high-quality imaging while preventing infection from body fluids and pathogens.
Innovation Solution
A disposable endoscope design where the imaging unit is housed in an airtight or liquidtight state within the distal end portion body, allowing for easy detachment and reattachment, enabling the reuse of the imaging unit while making other components disposable, thus reducing costs and preventing infection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a disposable endoscope is used to prevent infection, then infection prevention is improved, but the cost increases due to the expensive imaging unit
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into two distinct segments: a disposable distal end portion body containing the imaging unit, and a reusable proximal end portion. This segmentation allows the expensive imaging unit to be discarded with the disposable portion, eliminating the need to clean and sterilize the imaging unit while maintaining infection prevention. The modular design resolves the contradiction by making the entire endoscope disposable despite the high cost of the imaging unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a completely disposable endoscope design where the entire endoscope, including the expensive imaging unit, is discarded after single use. This approach prioritizes infection prevention over cost reduction, accepting that the high cost of the imaging unit is justified by the critical need to prevent pathogen transmission between patients. The disposable nature ensures no cross-contamination while the cost is absorbed as a one-time expense rather than repeated cleaning and sterilization costs.
2Measurement precision
If the imaging unit is built into the endoscope, then high-quality imaging is achieved, but the complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is segmented into a distal end portion body containing the imaging unit and a proximal end portion for operation. The imaging unit is housed in a sealed cavity within the distal end portion body, isolating it from the rest of the system. This segmentation maintains the high-quality imaging capability while simplifying the overall system architecture by clearly defining boundaries between functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit is nested within a sealed cavity structure in the distal end portion body. The lens cover is positioned to allow optical access to the imaging unit while maintaining the sealed environment. This nesting arrangement protects the imaging unit from contamination and damage while maintaining its functionality, effectively hiding the complexity within a compact, protected space.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the imaging unit is sealed in an airtight state, then infection prevention is improved, but the ease of detachment and reattachment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is segmented into disposable and reusable portions, eliminating the need for detachment and reattachment of the imaging unit. The imaging unit remains permanently sealed within the distal end portion body throughout the entire endoscope lifecycle, maintaining the airtight seal for infection prevention while avoiding the complexity of detachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging unit is extracted from the reusable portion and integrated into the disposable distal end portion body. This extraction removes the imaging unit from the system that requires repeated use and cleaning, allowing it to remain permanently sealed without needing detachment mechanisms. The imaging unit is taken out of the reusable component and placed in the disposable component, simplifying the sealed design.
4Ease of manufacture
If a reusable endoscope is used, then cost reduction is achieved through cleaning and sterilization, but infection prevention becomes compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is segmented into a disposable distal end portion body containing the imaging unit and a reusable proximal end portion. This segmentation allows the expensive imaging unit to be discarded with the disposable portion, eliminating the need to clean and sterilize the imaging unit while maintaining infection prevention. The modular design resolves the contradiction by making the entire endoscope disposable despite the high cost of the imaging unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a completely disposable endoscope design where the entire endoscope, including the expensive imaging unit, is discarded after single use. This approach prioritizes infection prevention over cost reduction, accepting that the high cost of the imaging unit is justified by the critical need to prevent pathogen transmission between patients. The disposable nature ensures no cross-contamination while the cost is absorbed as a one-time expense rather than repeated cleaning and sterilization costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A distal end portion body is disposed at a distal end of an insertion part of the endoscope. In the distal end portion body, an imaging unit that is housed in an airtight or liquidtight state with respect to an external space and that is attachably and detachably held is provided. The distal end portion body includes a lens cover, an imaging unit housing portion in which the imaging unit is held, and a first opening portion and the imaging unit can be separated through the first opening portion in a case where the imaging unit held in the imaging unit housing portion is pulled to a proximal end side of the distal end portion body.