Hermetic Sealed Imaging Instrument Focus Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current disinfection and sterilization methods for medical instruments, such as chemical immersion and ethylene oxide gas, are environmentally unfriendly, time-consuming, and pose safety risks due to toxicity and flammability, while steam sterilization requires specific standards and equipment.

Innovation Solution

A hermetically sealed imaging instrument with a reduced diameter for minimally invasive procedures, featuring a focusable optics system within a sealed chamber that maintains a hermetic seal during focus adjustments, allowing for precise imaging and illumination of target locations through a fiber-optic bundle, and utilizing a seal member that changes volume to accommodate focus changes without compromising the seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical immersion or ethylene oxide gas sterilization is used, then sterilization is achieved, but environmental harm, time consumption, and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental harm and safety risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical and gas-based sterilization systems with a mechanical/physical system consisting of a hermetically sealed chamber and autoclave. This substitution eliminates the need for toxic chemicals and flammable gases, thereby removing environmental harm and safety risks while maintaining sterilization effectiveness through steam under pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a hermetically sealed autoclave chamber that provides a controlled, inert environment for sterilization. This sealed environment allows steam sterilization to occur without contamination or interference from external factors, ensuring reliable sterilization while avoiding the harmful effects of chemical immersion or gas sterilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Reliability

If chemical immersion sterilization is used, then sterilization is achieved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidsterilization processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to steam under pressure within the hermetically sealed autoclave chamber. This phase transition enables rapid heat transfer and sterilization, significantly reducing processing time compared to chemical immersion methods while maintaining complete sterilization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing chemical immersion with a mechanical steam-based autoclave system, the patent achieves faster sterilization processing. The controlled pressure and temperature environment in the hermetically sealed chamber accelerates the sterilization process while ensuring complete elimination of contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If a hermetically sealed optics chamber is used, then imaging precision is maintained during focus adjustments, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging precisionVSAvoidchamber sealing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a hermetically sealed optics chamber with flexible sealing mechanisms that allow for focus adjustments while maintaining the seal. The flexible shell or thin film sealing approach enables movement of optical components for focusing without compromising the hermetic seal, thus maintaining imaging precision while managing device complexity through elegant sealing solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables efficient, safe, and rapid imaging and sterilization of medical instruments, reducing lag time between procedures and minimizing environmental impact by maintaining a hermetic seal and using a compact design suitable for small incisions, while avoiding toxic chemicals and gases.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHermetic sealing:

Implementation Method 2

allowing for precise imaging and illumination of target locations through a fiber-optic bundle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fiber transmission: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS20250000343A1Imaging instrument and methods of imaging a target location

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for imaging a target location. Accordingly, an imaging instrument includes an imaging system positioned within an elongated body. The imaging system includes an optics chamber that is hermetically sealed within the elongated body. A focusing element is movably positioned within the optics chamber. An image sensor is operably coupled to the focus element. A focus driver is positioned within the optics chamber and operably coupled to the focusing element. The focus driver is configured to move a longitudinal position of the focusing element in response to control input. Additionally, the imaging system includes a seal member that is configured to maintain the hermetic seal of the optics chamber while the control input affects the focus driver.