Laser Video Endoscope Segmentation for Infection Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of laser video endoscopes, particularly the image guide with 17,000 micron size optical fibers, incentivizes reuse after sterilization rather than disposal, posing a risk of human error in the sterilization process and compromising infection security.
Innovation Solution
Designing a laser video endoscope with a separable camera assembly and electrical cable, allowing the expensive optical image guide to be reused while the probe and hand piece are disposed of after each use, significantly reducing costs and maintaining familiar operating characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endoscope is reused after sterilization, then the expensive image guide can be utilized multiple times, but the risk of infection increases due to potential human error in the sterilization process
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into two distinct segments: a reusable camera assembly and a disposable probe containing the image guide. This segmentation allows the probe to be discarded after single use, eliminating sterilization risks, while the expensive camera assembly can be reused multiple times.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe containing the image guide is designed as a disposable, single-use component. Although the image guide is expensive, making the entire probe disposable ensures infection security by eliminating sterilization processes, while the overall system cost is managed by reusing the camera assembly.
2Reliability
If the endoscope is disposed of after each use, then infection security is maximized, but the high cost of the image guide makes this economically unviable
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a disposable probe and a reusable camera assembly. This allows selective disposal of only the single-use components while retaining expensive components for multiple uses, achieving both infection security and economic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe is designed as a disposable component that can be discarded after single use, ensuring infection security. The overall system becomes economically viable because the expensive camera assembly is reused, offsetting the cost of disposable probes.
3Reliability
If the entire endoscope is made disposable, then infection security is improved, but the cost becomes prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is segmented into disposable and reusable portions. Only the probe containing sterilization-prone components is disposed of, while the expensive camera assembly is reused, achieving infection security without prohibitively high costs.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the necessary single-use components (probe) are made disposable, not the entire system. This selective disposability ensures infection security while maintaining cost efficiency by reusing expensive components like the camera assembly.
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
This design reduces the cost of the endoscope from $200 to $8 for the image guide, making disposable use economically viable and ensuring an antiseptic procedure by eliminating the need for sterilization, thereby enhancing infection security.
Implementation Method 1
The image guide currently used costs about $200.00. This is a major incentive for the use of the endoscope after sterilization rather than disposing of the endoscope.
Implementation Method 2
The illumination guide and laser guide extend through a first channel of the hand piece to and through a relatively long flexible optical fiber cable to a laser energy source
Implementation Method 3
The illumination guide and laser guide extend through a first channel of the hand piece to and through a relatively long flexible optical fiber cable
Data Source
AI summary
A laser video endoscope has a laser guide, an illumination guide and an image guide. These are fiber optical guides which extend through the optical probe and through a hand piece that supports the probe. The hand piece is connected by a first relatively long flexible optical fiber cable to a laser energy source and a source of illumination. By contrast, the image is transmitted from the hand piece to an image presentation site by a camera assembly that is mounted to the hand piece and a relatively long electrical cable. The camera and its electrical cable can be uncoupled from the hand piece and used in a plurality of endoscopic routines. The rest of the product, including the probe and the hand piece, can be disposed of after each medical routine thereby providing assurance of an antiseptic procedure.