Endoscope Warmer with Wicking Sponge and Heat Storage Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices lack an efficient and convenient solution for warming and storing endoscopes during procedures, which can lead to suboptimal performance and increased risk of contamination.
Innovation Solution
A medical device warmer comprising a warming cylinder with a heat storage tube and wicking sponge, designed to be clipped to surgical draping, along with a support kit containing essential equipment for endoscopic procedures, ensuring ready access and effective heat transfer and liquid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an endoscope is stored outside a warmer during an endoscopic procedure, then accessibility is improved, but the endoscope is at risk of contamination and suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is nested within the warming cylinder, which itself is contained within the support kit. This nested structure allows the endoscope to be stored in a compact, organized manner while maintaining accessibility through the open-top design of the cylinder.
Solution Approach 2:
The wicking sponge acts as an intermediary between the endoscope and the external environment. It absorbs and removes liquids that could cause contamination or pooling, while allowing the endoscope to remain accessible within the warmer.
2Temperature
If a warming device is designed with complex heating mechanisms, then warming effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat storage tube serves as a self-service thermal management system. It passively stores and releases heat without requiring active heating elements, thermostats, or power sources, thereby maintaining warming effectiveness while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes phase change materials in the heat storage tube that absorb and release heat during phase transitions. This parameter change approach provides effective temperature control without complex mechanical or electronic systems.
3Reliability
If the warming device includes integrated liquid management, then contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wicking sponge is made of porous material that passively absorbs and wicks away liquids through capillary action. This simple porous structure provides effective liquid management and contamination prevention without requiring pumps, channels, or complex drainage systems.
4Productivity
If the support kit includes all necessary equipment and materials, then procedural efficiency is improved, but kit size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support kit merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the warming cylinder stores and warms the endoscope, the wicking sponge manages liquids, and the entire assembly attaches to the surgical drape. This consolidation provides procedural efficiency while minimizing the number of separate components and overall weight.
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 device efficiently warms and stores endoscopes, maintaining their functionality while preventing contamination through effective heat storage and liquid wicking, enhancing procedural efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The warming cylinder (101) comprises a capped tube (111), a heat storage tube (112) and a wicking sponge (113)
Implementation Method 2
The warming cylinder (101) comprises a capped tube (111), a heat storage tube (112) and a wicking sponge (113)
Data Source
AI summary
The medical device warmer is adapted for use with endoscopes. Specifically, the medical device warmer is a mechanical apparatus that is adapted to store and warm an endoscope during an endoscopic procedure. The medical device warmer is provisioned as a support kit. The support kit contains the medical device warmer as well as associated equipment and materials required for an endoscopic procedure. During an endoscopic procedure the support kit is clipped with a plurality of clips to the surgical draping used in the procedure to allow medical personnel ready access to the equipment. The medical device warmer comprises a warming cylinder, a cap and a support kit.