Endoscope Sheath Segmentation for Sterilization and Optical Clarity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The structure of reusable endoscopes becomes unstable and sterilization effectiveness deteriorates due to repeated damp heat sterilization, leading to potential bacterial contamination and increased risk of surgical infections.
Innovation Solution
A disposable flexible lens sheath and a disposable sterilization jacket are integrated with a reusable endoscope body, isolating the user from the reusable components and ensuring only disposable parts are contacted, while the light source component is housed in the flexible lens sheath to avoid integration issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the endoscope structure is reused and sterilized multiple times by damp heat, then the endoscope can be used repeatedly, but the structure becomes unstable and sterilization effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope system is divided into two distinct parts: a reusable endoscope body and a disposable flexible lens sheath. The disposable sheath is discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for repeated sterilization of the entire endoscope structure, thereby maintaining structural stability and sterilization effectiveness while still enabling repeated use of the expensive endoscope body.
Solution Approach 2:
A disposable flexible lens sheath is introduced as a single-use component that protects the reusable endoscope body. The sheath is discarded after one use, avoiding the degradation issues caused by repeated sterilization of the entire endoscope, while the expensive endoscope body can be reused multiple times.
2Device complexity
If the light source component is integrated inside the endoscope body, then the structure is compact, but it causes astigmatism and reflection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The light source component is extracted from the endoscope body and placed in a separate location. The light guide extends from the external light source through the flexible lens sheath to illuminate the examination area, separating the light source from the optical path to eliminate astigmatism and reflection problems while maintaining a compact overall structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscope device, comprising: a disposable flexible lens sheath (1), a reusable endoscope body (2), and a disposable sterilization jacket (3). The endoscope body (2) can be received in the flexible lens sheath (1) from an endoscope receiving structure (11) of the flexible lens sheath (1). The sterilization jacket (3) is mounted at an entrance of the endoscope receiving structure (11), so as to isolate the endoscope body (2) from the outside. A light source component (4) is provided near a front end of the flexible lens sheath (1). The endoscope body (2) is provided with a conductive component (5). A rear end of the endoscope body (2) is connected to a power cord (7), and the power cord (7) is connected to the conductive component (5). After the endoscope body (2) is received in the flexible lens sheath (1), the conductive component (5) is in direct or indirect conduction with a light source lead (6) of the light source component (4), so that the light source component (4) is powered. The endoscope device can avoid or reduce problems caused by sterilization and disinfection, and can also avoid astigmatism and reflection problems caused by integration of a light source inside the endoscope body (2).