Endoscope Suction Control Triggered by Laser Lithotripsy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic procedures for lithotripsy face challenges in efficiently managing suction and irrigation fluid flow, as continuous operation is inefficient and can lead to unnecessary fluid management during stone fragmentation, requiring manual user intervention.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system that automatically controls suction and irrigation based on laser energy delivery, image processing, and sensor feedback, using AI/ML models to synchronize fluid management with stone fragmentation processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If suction is operated continuously during lithotripsy, then debris removal is maintained, but fluid management becomes inefficient and requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The suction system automatically activates and deactivates based on laser energy delivery detection, eliminating the need for manual user intervention. The system self-regulates suction operation to coincide with stone fragmentation events, improving operational efficiency while maintaining effective debris removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback to detect laser energy delivery and automatically triggers suction activation. This closed-loop control ensures suction operates only when debris is being generated, optimizing productivity while reducing unnecessary manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If suction is activated automatically based on laser energy delivery, then manual intervention is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A controller acts as an intermediary between the laser energy delivery system and the suction pump. This intermediary component receives sensor signals indicating laser activation and automatically controls suction operation, reducing manual intervention while managing system complexity through a dedicated control module.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical control of suction is replaced with an automated electronic control system that responds to laser energy delivery signals. This substitution eliminates the need for manual operation while the modular controller manages the added electronic complexity.
3Productivity
If fluid flow is optimized during stone fragmentation, then procedural efficiency is enhanced, but fluid management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow system transitions from static continuous operation to dynamic on-demand operation. Suction and irrigation are activated only during laser energy delivery when stone fragmentation occurs, optimizing procedural efficiency while the controller manages fluid management complexity through automated timing.
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
Enhances procedural efficiency by optimizing fluid flow and debris removal, reducing manual intervention, and improving visualization during lithotripsy procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The laser energy can be used for diagnosis or treatment, such as to perform laser lithotripsy to ablate one or more calculi stones. The ablation can cause the stone to break apart into smaller pieces
Implementation Method 2
a suction component to provide suction during a lithotripsy procedure
Data Source
AI summary
A suction or other component of an endoscope system may be cycled on and off or otherwise controlled without requiring direct user input, such as automatically or semi-automatically using a current or historical state of a laser generator, a blurriness or other information from an image of the working area, a count of fragments of a calculi stone, an intraoperative pressure, an intraoperative temperature, or one or more other characteristics of the laser generator or the targeted calculi stone.