Endoscope Switching Device Cover for Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical instruments with electrical and/or electronic switching devices face damage or destruction during sterilization processes due to aggressive conditions, necessitating protection from chemical sterilization substances.
Innovation Solution
A medical instrument with a cover integrally bonded to the main body, featuring an outwardly directed bulge for the button, made from corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel, providing a tight and protective connection that prevents chemical ingress and allows for resilient actuation, enabling reliable protection and easy user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the switching device is exposed during sterilization, then the sterilization process can be applied to the entire instrument, but the switching device will be damaged or destroyed by aggressive chemical sterilization substances
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device is segmented from the main body by being housed in a separate cover (7) that can be integrally bonded to create a tight connection. This segmentation allows the switching device to be protected from sterilization substances while the rest of the instrument undergoes sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover (7) acts as an intermediary barrier between the switching device and the chemical sterilization substances. It provides a protective interface that prevents direct contact between harmful substances and the sensitive electronic components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover is made from corrosion-resistant material like stainless steel, then protection against chemical sterilization substances is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the cover is changed to corrosion-resistant material (stainless steel) to withstand chemical sterilization substances. This parameter change provides the necessary chemical resistance while maintaining a relatively simple cover structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover may be provided with a coating to enhance its properties. This composite approach combines the base corrosion-resistant material with an additional protective layer, providing superior resistance to chemical sterilization substances.
3Ease of operation
If the button is formed on an outwardly directed bulge of the cover, then the user interface is improved with easy tactile feedback, but the structural complexity of the cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The button is formed on an outwardly directed bulge (curved surface) of the cover. This curvature provides tactile feedback to the user during operation while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure in the cover.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover is integrally bonded to the main body, then protection from chemical ingress is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover (7) is integrally bonded to the main body (3) to form a unified structure with a tight connection. This merging creates a sealed enclosure that prevents chemical sterilization substances from penetrating into the switching device, while the integral bonding process integrates two components into a cohesive 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
The solution effectively prevents damage to the switching device during reconditioning, ensuring the medical instrument's reliability and ease of use while maintaining a sterile environment, allowing for thermal and chemical reconditioning, including autoclaving.
Implementation Method 1
the cover (7), which is integrally bonded to the main body (3) of the medical instrument (1) in order to produce a tight connection
Implementation Method 2
the at least one bulge (8) for actuating the switching device (4) is designed such that it can be pressed in resiliently and reversibly
Data Source
AI summary
A medical instrument (1) designed in particular as an endoscope (2) has a main body (3) and, formed on the main body (3), an electrical and/or electronic switching device (4) with at least one button (5) for actuating the switching device (4) and the medical instrument (1). The switching device (4) is provided on its outside (6) with a cover (7), which is integrally bonded to the main body (3) of the medical instrument (1) in order to produce a tight connection. Provision is further made that the cover (7) has at least one outwardly directed bulge (8), on which the at least one button (5) of the switching device (4) is formed.