Fiberoptic Cable Safety Adaptor for Thermal Burn Prevention
Solution Overview
Problem
Fiberoptic cables used in medical and surgical procedures pose a burn risk due to their distal ends becoming extremely hot during use, leading to potential burns, fires, and human error in deactivating the light source before disconnecting the cable.
Innovation Solution
The development of safety adaptors that are permanently or semi-permanently attached to the fiberoptic cables, featuring an annular sheath and slit cover, which extend beyond the distal end to prevent contact and provide physical spacing, eliminating the need for operator intervention to deactivate the light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the distal end of the fiberoptic cable is used to illuminate surgical sites, then illumination intensity is improved, but the distal end becomes extremely hot and poses a burn risk
Solution Approach 1:
A protective cap is introduced as an intermediary component between the hot distal end of the fiberoptic cable and the surgical field. The cap serves as a thermal barrier that blocks direct contact between the heated cable end and patients or surgical materials, allowing the cable to maintain high temperature for effective illumination while preventing heat transfer to surrounding objects
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap is constructed from flexible material that can conform to the distal end of the cable. This flexible shell provides thermal insulation while maintaining the ability to be properly positioned and secured on the cable, effectively managing the heat generated during illumination without compromising the lighting function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the operator manually deactivates the light source before disconnecting the cable, then burn risk is reduced, but human error leads to fires and burns
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap is pre-installed on the distal end of the fiberoptic cable before use. This preliminary action ensures that the thermal protection is already in place before the cable is connected to the light source and begins heating, eliminating the need for operators to remember to activate protection measures and preventing burns even if the light source is not properly deactivated
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cap provides automatic, passive thermal protection that does not require operator intervention or awareness. The cap continuously performs its protective function throughout the entire duration that the cable is connected and heated, making the system self-protecting rather than relying on human memory or procedural compliance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a removable safety cap is used, then burn protection is provided, but additional steps are required and protection may be forgotten
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap and the fiberoptic cable are combined into a single integrated assembly through permanent or semi-permanent attachment. This merging eliminates the need for separate installation and removal steps, as the protection is inherently part of the cable itself, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring continuous burn protection
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.