Endoscope Valve Mechanism for Water-Free Leak Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope cleaning and disinfecting systems face challenges in effectively detecting water leaks within the endoscope without exposing the internal space to water, which could lead to equipment failure if a hole occurs in the outer sheath or conduit.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope system with a valve mechanism that uses negative pressure to open and close the internal space, a pressure sensor to detect pressure changes, and an air-feeding and suction mechanism to apply and maintain pressure, allowing for leak detection without water exposure, and a control section to manage the process, ensuring the pipe sleeve can be detached after pressurization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water leakage detection is performed by connecting a pipe sleeve to the endoscope internal space, then leak detection capability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and user operation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak detection capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the valve mechanism from the pipe sleeve and integrates it into the endoscope connector. This allows the pipe sleeve to be a simple open tube without complex valve structures, while the valve functionality is provided by the connector's integrated valve that opens when the pipe sleeve is inserted and closes when removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the valve mechanism with the endoscope connector, creating a unified component that provides both connection and valve control functions. This integration eliminates the need for separate valve components in the pipe sleeve assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a check valve structure is used to prevent water entry when disconnected, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater prevention capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve functionality is merged with the main valve mechanism in the connector. The same valve body and sealing structures serve both as the primary valve and as a check valve to prevent water entry when the pipe sleeve is disconnected, eliminating the need for separate check valve components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the pipe sleeve remains connected during cleaning and disinfection, then leak detection reliability is maintained, but cleaning accessibility and user effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleak detection accuracyVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The valve mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The valve automatically opens when the pipe sleeve is inserted and automatically closes when removed, allowing the system to transition between different operational states. This enables the pipe sleeve to be detached for cleaning while maintaining leak detection capability when reconnected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This method allows for reliable leak detection without water exposure, simplifies the structure of the leak detection pipe sleeve, reduces user effort, and lowers manufacturing costs by enabling the cleaning and disinfection of the outer surface of the pipe sleeve during the disinfecting process.

Implementation Method 1

a valve configured to keep an internal space of an endoscope airtight, a pipe sleeve configured to be connectable to a leak detection mechanism having the valve, an air-feeding and suction mechanism configured to open the valve by applying a negative pressure, close the valve by performing pressurization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

close the valve by performing pressurization, and detach the pipe sleeve from the leak detection mechanism by continuing pressurization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurization: Pressurisation

Implementation Method 3

a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure at a time of the negative pressure being applied, and output a first detection signal indicating that a hole does not occur in a member that forms the internal space of the endoscope

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11684250B2Endoscope system, and leak detection processing method and leak detection processing apparatus for endoscope

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An endoscope system includes a valve configured to keep an internal space of an endoscope airtight, an air pump configured to open and close the valve by applying a negative pressure and a positive pressure, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure at a time of the negative pressure and the positive pressure being applied, and a control section configured to receive a detection signal from the pressure sensor, and perform drive control of the air pump.