Endoscope Tip Protector Cage for Drying Residual Moisture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes have fragile components at their distal tips that are prone to damage during storage and transportation, and existing tip protectors can trap residual moisture leading to bacteria growth and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A tip protector with a cage and a positional membrane that minimizes contact points and allows air flow to dry residual moisture, using materials like thermoplastic elastomer and flexible PVC to secure the endoscope without trapping moisture or contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing tip protectors are used to protect fragile components, then protection is provided, but residual moisture is trapped leading to bacteria growth
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is constructed with multiple holes or openings that allow air flow through the structure. This porous design enables moisture to escape while the cage continues to provide mechanical protection for the fragile endoscope components, thereby resolving the contradiction between protection and moisture trapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful function of moisture trapping is eliminated by extracting the blocking characteristic from the cage design. The cage structure removes the moisture-retention property while maintaining the protection function, allowing air circulation to prevent bacteria growth.
2Reliability
If a cage structure is used to protect the distal tip, then mechanical protection is provided, but air flow is restricted trapping moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The cage incorporates multiple holes or openings throughout its structure, transforming it from a solid moisture-trapping enclosure into a porous protective framework. This allows air to circulate freely through the cage while the outer structure maintains mechanical protection for the distal tip components.
3Reliability
If the positional membrane contacts the endoscope extensively, then secure attachment is achieved, but moisture is trapped at contact points
Solution Approach 1:
The positional membrane is designed to contact the endoscope at multiple discrete points rather than as a continuous surface. This segmentation reduces the total contact area, allowing moisture to escape more easily while still providing sufficient attachment security through the distributed contact points.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
A tip protector for attaching to a distal tip of an endoscope includes a cage and positional membrane. The cage has a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of holes disposed between the proximal end and distal end. The cage defines a channel that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The positional membrane is attached to the cage, and the positional membrane includes a main opening and a plurality of air flow openings. The main opening is for receiving a distal tip of an endoscope, and the air flow openings are for allowing air flow through the positional membrane. The positional membrane is configured to attach the tip protector to the endoscope such that the endoscope is disposed within the channel between the proximal end and the distal end. When the tip protector is attached to the endoscope, the cage does not contact the endoscope.