Modular Endoscope Suction Isolation for Hygienic Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopes require complete replacement or extensive cleaning due to integration of reusable and disposable parts, leading to contamination risks and inconvenience in hygiene management.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope design with detachable reusable and disposable parts, where the disposable part includes a lighting/imaging unit and an insertion pipe, and the reusable part has a manipulation knob for bending the insertion pipe, with separate suction and supply channels to prevent cross-contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the entire endoscope is integrated as a single unit, then structural simplicity is maintained, but complete replacement is required after use leading to waste and increased cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoiddevice replacement waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope is divided into three main segments: a reusable manipulation portion, a disposable insertion portion, and a disposable suction part. The manipulation portion containing the handle and control mechanisms can be reused, while the insertion portion that contacts the patient and the suction part are designed as disposable components. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the contaminated parts rather than the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a hybrid approach where the manipulation portion is recovered and reused after appropriate disinfection, while the insertion portion and suction part are discarded after single use. This selective discarding and recovering strategy reduces waste compared to complete replacement while maintaining hygiene standards by ensuring that parts contacting the patient are disposed of.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Adaptability or versatility

If the insertion portion and manipulation portion are detachably coupled, then selective replacement is enabled, but contaminants can leak from the disposable part to the reusable part during separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective replacement capabilityVSAvoidcontaminant leakage during separation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction part is extracted as a separate disposable component from both the manipulation portion and the insertion portion. It includes dedicated suction channels that are isolated from other channels, and it is detached and discarded together with the insertion portion after use. This extraction prevents contaminants from the insertion portion from reaching the reusable manipulation portion through the suction pathway.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The suction part acts as an intermediary barrier between the insertion portion and the manipulation portion. Its dedicated suction channels and separate coupling mechanisms create isolation zones that prevent direct contact between potentially contaminated surfaces of the insertion portion and the reusable manipulation portion during the separation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If multiple channels are disposed adjacent to one another in the manipulation portion, then space efficiency is improved, but cross-contamination between channels occurs during separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation portion space utilizationVSAvoidcross-contamination between adjacent channels

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction channels are extracted into a separate suction part that is disposed of with the insertion portion. This removes the suction channels from the manipulation portion entirely, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination between suction and other channels (such as injection or irrigation channels) that are disposed adjacent to one another in the manipulation portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20260000273A1endoscope

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an endoscope including a disposable part having a lighting/imaging part and an insertion pipe, a reusable part detachably coupled to the disposable part, having a manipulation knob, and configured to bend the insertion pipe by means of a manipulation of the manipulation knob, and a disposable suction part detachably coupled to the reusable part and configured to accommodate therein a channel, in which an operator may separate the disposable suction part from the reusable part and separately discard the disposable suction part, thereby improving the hygiene of the reusable part.