Endoscope Plug Valve Locking for Open Sterilization Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stopcocks for medical endoscopes are difficult to clean and sterilize due to a small gap between the housing and plug, leading to increased preparation time and risk of loss during autoclaving, with the current two-stage locking mechanism being confusing and prone to incorrect positioning.
Innovation Solution
A stopcock design featuring a conical surface with transverse grooves and a spring element that locks the plug in a medium access position, allowing sterilization gas to penetrate and preventing closure, while maintaining connection during cleaning and ensuring easy recognition of the open position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the gap between housing and plug is made small for compact design, then the device size is reduced, but cleaning and sterilization become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to be movable between a working position (sealing the fluid channel) and a cleaning position (disengaged from the housing). This dynamic repositioning allows the gap to be small during operation but large enough during cleaning for steam to access all surfaces, resolving the contradiction between compact design and ease of sterilization
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is divided into separable components (housing and plug) that can be moved relative to each other. The plug can be positioned in different states: engaged for sealing and disengaged for cleaning, allowing the system to switch between compact operational mode and open cleaning mode
2Ease of manufacture
If the plug is made separable for easy cleaning, then sterilization access is improved, but reassembly time and risk of loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism provides dynamic positioning with distinct stable states: a locked working position and an unlocked cleaning position. The detent mechanism with spring-loaded ball ensures the plug remains securely in either position, preventing accidental disassembly while enabling intentional separation for cleaning without risk of loss
Solution Approach 2:
A detent mechanism acts as an intermediary between the plug and housing, providing controlled locking and unlocking. The spring-loaded ball in the detent groove creates a reliable latch that requires deliberate action to release, ensuring the plug stays in place during normal use but can be easily separated when needed for cleaning
3Ease of manufacture
If identical locking geometries are used for working and sterilization positions, then manufacturing is simplified, but position distinction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The detent groove is positioned asymmetrically on the plug, creating different engagement characteristics for the locking and cleaning positions. This asymmetric geometry provides tactile and visual feedback to distinguish between the two positions, while still using simple groove features that are easy to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual indicators (such as different colors or markings on the plug) to clearly distinguish between the working position and cleaning position. This allows operators to easily identify the current state without complex mechanical differences, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving operational clarity
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple stopcocks are used for different fluid channels, then fluid control versatility is improved, but reassembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stopcock design provides universal functionality that can control different fluid channels. The standardized plug and housing design with clear position indicators allows rapid identification and correct reassembly of multiple valves, reducing the time and complexity associated with handling multiple stopcocks for different fluid channels
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
Facilitates easy cleaning and sterilization by maintaining the stopcock in an open position during sterilization, reducing preparation time and minimizing the risk of loss or confusion during assembly, while ensuring effective liquid flow regulation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element engages in the one or more transverse grooves in the medium access position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a shut-off valve for a fluid channel of a medical endoscope, comprising a housing, a spring element and a plug rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein the plug, in a working position, rests with a conical surface against a sealing surface of the housing and can be brought into a medium access position in which the conical surface and the sealing surface are disengaged and the housing and the plug remain connected, characterized in that the plug has one or more transverse grooves extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the conical part in the outer wall of a conical part, the groove bottoms of which are straight, and the spring element engages in the one or more transverse grooves in the medium access position.The invention also relates to a medical endoscope with at least one liquid channel, characterized in that it comprises at least one shut-off valve according to one of the preceding claims, by means of which the liquid flow through the liquid channel can be regulated.