Endoscope Distal Recess Cleaning for Sterile Instrument Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes face challenges in effectively sterilizing and cleaning the inner surfaces and treatment instruments after use, particularly when reused, as they may become contaminated with bacteria from the environment or patient microbiota.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design includes a recessed distal end portion with a treatment instrument channel and a first liquid feed channel that discharges cleaning liquid to clean the inner surfaces and treatment instruments before use, ensuring sterility by using multiple discharge outlets in various directions to ensure thorough cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single liquid discharge outlet is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning effectiveness of the inner surface and treatment instrument is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid discharge function is segmented into multiple outlets (first liquid discharge outlet and second liquid discharge outlet) positioned at different locations and orientations. This segmentation allows the cleaning liquid to reach different areas of the inner surface and treatment instrument from multiple directions, significantly improving cleaning effectiveness while maintaining reasonable device complexity through systematic division of the cleaning function.
2Reliability
If multiple liquid discharge outlets in various directions are used, then the cleaning thoroughness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different discharge outlets are configured with different local characteristics: the first liquid discharge outlet is positioned to discharge liquid in a first direction targeting specific areas, while the second liquid discharge outlet discharges in a second direction covering other regions. This local quality differentiation ensures that each outlet is optimized for its specific cleaning zone, achieving thorough sterilization without requiring excessive complexity throughout the entire device.
3Area of stationary object
If cleaning liquid is discharged in multiple directions, then the coverage of cleaning is improved, but the liquid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning approach transitions from a single-direction linear cleaning to a multi-dimensional coverage by positioning discharge outlets at different spatial locations and orientations. The first liquid discharge outlet and second liquid discharge outlet work together to create a three-dimensional cleaning field that covers the entire inner surface and treatment instrument, maximizing cleaning coverage area while maintaining efficient liquid consumption through strategic positioning rather than excessive liquid volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope comprises an insertion portion including a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis. The distal end portion includes an inner surface forming a recess, a first channel extending in a first direction and configured to receive a treatment instrument, the first channel including a first opening disposed at the inner surface of the recess, a raising base disposed in the recess and configured to direct a distal end of the treatment instrument received in the first channel, and a second channel including a second opening disposed at the inner surface, the second channel configured to discharge a first liquid to inside of the recess via the second opening.