Disposable Endoscope Cleaning Valve With Monolithic Stem Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable medical cleaning valves for endoscopes are complex and costly due to numerous removable components, requiring reprocessing that increases costs and complexity, and poses risks of infection from improper cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A disposable medical cleaning valve with a monolithic stem and integrated seals, formed as a unitary structure from polymer materials, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps, and eliminating the need for reprocessing by using a closed distal end and integrally formed components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a reusable cleaning valve with multiple removable components is used, then the valve can be repaired and reused, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (valve stem, seals, spring, boot, interface member) into a single integrated unit. The valve stem is formed as a monolithic structure with seals and other features integrally molded into it, eliminating the need for separate parts and complex assembly while maintaining repairability through disposable replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
While the valve stem is integrated, the overall cleaning valve system is segmented into modular components that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The interface member, valve stem, and spring housing are separate modules that simplify manufacturing and assembly while reducing the total number of small parts compared to traditional designs.
2Productivity
If a reusable cleaning valve is used, then the valve can be reused, but reprocessing costs and infection risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a disposable cleaning valve that is used once and then discarded. This eliminates the need for reprocessing and associated infection risks while maintaining productivity. The low cost of the disposable unit compared to the reprocessing infrastructure makes this economically viable.
3Ease of repair
If multiple separate components are used in the cleaning valve, then repairs can be performed, but manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve stem, seals, and related features are integrally molded as a single piece, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of multiple components. This significantly reduces manufacturing cost while the entire integrated unit can be replaced as a single component if needed.
4Ease of operation
If a cleaning valve with multiple removable components is used, then the valve can be disassembled for cleaning, but the reprocessing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning valve is designed as a disposable single-use component that requires no cleaning or reprocessing. It is inserted, used for cleaning the endoscope, and then discarded, eliminating all reprocessing time and associated costs while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical cleaning valve (or cleaning valve) may be configured to provide cleaning functionality to fluid (e.g., air and water) channels of an endoscope. Many embodiments described herein may include a cleaning valve (or valve) that is appropriate for single-use and therefore may be disposable. Accordingly, the valve may be made from a limited number of parts and materials, e.g., to limit its cost and/or manufacturing complexity. For example, multiple seals may be integrally formed with a valve stem. In another example, the valve may have an interface member, which may combine and simplify the functionality of a number of components, such as by connecting the valve stem to a valve well, sealing an opening to a lumen in the valve stem, and/or biasing the valve stem into a position relative to the valve well.