Endoscope Reprocessor Valve Fault Detection via Pressure Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope reprocessors with multiple connectors face challenges in effectively detecting faults in valves, which can lead to inefficient fluid discharge and reprocessing operations.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope reprocessor equipped with a fluid supply section, valves, and a pressure sensor that uses control signals to measure pressures and compare them against reference values to determine valve faults, allowing for accurate detection of valve states and fluid discharge conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple valves are used to control fluid discharge from multiple connectors, then fluid control capability is improved, but fault detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by placing pressure sensors in the fluid supply conduit to continuously monitor pressure changes. When a valve fails to open or close properly, the pressure sensor detects the abnormal pressure change and feeds this information back to the control unit, which then identifies the faulty valve based on the pressure pattern. This feedback mechanism enables automatic fault detection without requiring manual inspection of each valve.
2Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are installed to detect valve faults, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it monitors pressure during normal fluid supply operations, detects valve faults by analyzing pressure changes, and provides data for identifying specific faulty valves. By making the pressure sensor multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate detection devices, thereby improving fault detection accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical valve position sensors or manual inspection mechanisms with a simpler pressure-based detection system. By using pressure changes as an indirect indicator of valve status, the system achieves accurate fault detection with simpler hardware, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Device complexity
If manual inspection methods are used for valve faults, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by automatically detecting valve faults through pressure sensor monitoring and identifying the specific faulty valve without requiring manual intervention. The control unit automatically analyzes pressure changes and determines which valve is malfunctioning, enabling the system to self-identify problems and reducing the need for manual inspection, thereby improving reprocessing efficiency without significantly increasing complexity.
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
Enables reliable detection of valve faults, ensuring proper fluid discharge and maintaining reprocessing efficiency by identifying abnormal valve states and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
measuring, using the pressure sensor, a pressure between the first valve and the fluid supply section in the fluid supply conduit or a pressure of the first conduit
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope reprocessor includes a fluid supply section configured to supply a fluid, a fluid supply conduit configured to communicate with the fluid supply section and include an opening open to the atmosphere, a first valve disposed in the fluid supply conduit, a second valve disposed closer to the opening side than the first valve of the fluid supply conduit, a processing tank in which an endoscope is disposed, a first connector and a second connector provided in the processing tank, a first conduit configured to connect a section between the first valve and the fluid supply section and the first connector, a second conduit configured to connect a section between the first valve and the second valve and the second connector, and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of a section between the first valve and the fluid supply section in the fluid supply conduit.