Endoscope Stopcock Locking Grooves for Open Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stopcocks for medical endoscopes are difficult to clean and sterilize due to their design, which can lead to incomplete sterilization and risk of plug loss during the autoclaving process, and the distinction between working and sterilization positions is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A stopcock design featuring a plug with transverse grooves on its conical surface and a spring element that engages with these grooves in a medium access position, ensuring the stopcock remains open during sterilization and allowing easy recognition of the position, while also providing a secure locking mechanism to prevent disassembly during cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plug is tightly sealed against the housing in the working position, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but sterilization becomes difficult due to insufficient steam penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to be dynamically positionable between two states: a working position with tight sealing for reliable operation, and a sterilization position with an opened gap for steam penetration. The spring element enables automatic transition between these states, making the sealing surface dynamically accessible during sterilization while maintaining reliability during use.
2Reliability
If the plug is removed from the housing for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the risk of plug loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented with a through-opening that allows the spring element to pass through and engage with locking geometries on the housing. This segmentation enables the plug to be retained in the housing during sterilization while still allowing steam to penetrate through the opening, eliminating both the need for removal and the risk of loss.
3Ease of operation
If the plug is small in size, then the stopcock is compact and easy to operate, but the risk of losing the plug during autoclaving increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is merged with the spring element and housing through a locking mechanism where the spring passes through the plug and engages with complementary geometries on both components. This merging creates an integrated assembly that prevents plug loss while maintaining the compact size necessary for ease of operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stopcocks are used on an endoscope, then functional versatility is improved, but the time required for reassembly after cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element automatically performs the locking function when the plug is inserted into the housing, eliminating the need for manual screwing or complex assembly steps. This self-service locking mechanism allows multiple stopcocks to be quickly assembled by simply inserting each plug, significantly reducing reassembly time while maintaining functional versatility.
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
The design ensures effective sterilization by maintaining the stopcock in an open position during sterilization, preventing closure, and provides a secure locking mechanism to prevent loss and misassembly, simplifying the cleaning process and reducing the risk of incomplete sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element and a plug rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the plug in a working position lies with its conical surface against a seal surface of the housing and can be placed in a medium access position in which the conical surface and the seal surface have no contact and the housing and the plug remain connected
Data Source
AI summary
A stopcock for a liquid channel of a medical endoscope, having a housing, a spring element and a plug rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the plug in a working position lies with its conical surface against a seal surface of the housing and can be placed in a medium access position in which the conical and the seal surface have no contact and the housing and the plug remain connected, characterized in that the plug includes one or more transverse grooves, in the outer wall of a conical piece, running transversely to the longitudinal axis of the conical piece and having straight groove bottoms, and the spring element in the medium access position engages with one or more transverse grooves. A medical endoscope having at least one liquid channel, characterized in that it includes at least one stopcock, by which the liquid flow through the channel can be regulated.