Optical Fiber Efficiency Monitoring in Medical Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Medical devices using optical fibers to transmit laser energy face inefficiency issues, leading to premature replacement and increased waste, as operators cannot accurately determine the remaining usable life of the fibers, resulting in unnecessary costs and waste.

Innovation Solution

A medical device equipped with an energy source and a monitoring device, such as a power meter, that emits energy into one end of the optical fiber and measures the power at the other end, allowing for determination of fiber efficiency by comparing the emitted and received power within a certain threshold, thereby assessing the fiber's remaining useful life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operators replace optical fiber after a certain number of uses or working time, then reliability is maintained, but cost increases and waste is generated due to premature replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical fiber reliabilityVSAvoidoptical fiber waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing of the optical fiber before it reaches its actual end of life by measuring transmission efficiency and comparing it against predefined thresholds. This allows operators to continue using the fiber until it actually fails rather than replacing it prematurely based on fixed usage schedules, thereby reducing waste while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors transmission efficiency of the optical fiber and provides feedback to operators about its remaining useful life. By establishing threshold values for transmission efficiency, the system enables data-driven decisions about when to replace the fiber, preventing both premature replacement and use beyond acceptable performance levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If operators replace optical fiber after a certain number of uses or working time, then reliability is maintained, but cost increases due to unnecessary replacements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical fiber reliabilityVSAvoidoptical fiber consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing of the optical fiber before it reaches its actual end of life by measuring transmission efficiency and comparing it against predefined thresholds. This allows operators to continue using the fiber until it actually fails rather than replacing it prematurely based on fixed usage schedules, thereby reducing waste while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors transmission efficiency of the optical fiber and provides feedback to operators about its remaining useful life. By establishing threshold values for transmission efficiency, the system enables data-driven decisions about when to replace the fiber, preventing both premature replacement and use beyond acceptable performance levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of substance

If transmission efficiency of optical fiber is monitored, then waste is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical fiber wasteVSAvoidtesting device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential measurement function needed to assess optical fiber health - measuring transmission efficiency at the distal end. By focusing on this single critical parameter rather than comprehensive monitoring, the system achieves waste reduction with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses an intermediary measurement approach where a monitoring device measures transmission efficiency as a proxy for overall fiber health. This indirect measurement method provides sufficient information to determine remaining useful life without requiring complex direct assessment of the fiber's internal state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables the accurate assessment of optical fiber efficiency, reducing unnecessary replacements and waste by identifying fibers that still have usable life, thereby lowering costs and optimizing resource utilization.

Implementation Method 1

an optical fiber to transmit energy, including laser energy from a laser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10420609B2Medical device and methods of use

Publication Date: 2019.09.24 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a medical device. More particularly, aspects of the disclosure relate to a medical device including an energy source configured to emit energy into a first end of an optical fiber and a monitoring device configured to receive energy from a second end of the optical fiber.