Illuminated Suction Device with Integrated LED and Battery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical suction devices lack a permanent, integral light source, leading to limited visibility during procedures due to external light source difficulties in directing light into deep tissue cavities, and they are costly and cumbersome with external laser units and fiber optic cables.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held suction device with integrated suction and illumination functions, featuring a permanent LED light source powered by a battery pack, allowing for simultaneous fluid evacuation and illumination, and designed for disposability after a single use to minimize costs and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a permanent integral light source is integrated into the suction device, then illumination and visibility during surgery is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suction device and illumination device into a single integrated unit. The light source, battery, and control circuitry are incorporated directly into the suction device handle, eliminating the need for separate external light sources and their associated cabling. This merging resolves the contradiction by providing improved illumination while managing device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device is designed to perform multiple functions: suction of fluids and illumination of the surgical field. By making the device universal, it eliminates the need for separate specialized devices, thereby improving illumination capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Illumination intensity
If external light sources and fiber optic cables are used, then illumination is provided, but cabling problems and cleaning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source functionality from external equipment and embeds it directly into the suction device. This eliminates fiber optic cables and external laser units, resolving the cabling problems and simplifying the cleaning process between procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction device with integrated illumination is designed as a disposable single-use device. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and sterilization of optical components and cabling, as the entire device is discarded after one use, resolving the cleaning complexity issue.
3Device complexity
If traditional suction devices without integrated light sources are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but visibility into deep tissue cavities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is provided locally at the distal tip of the suction device where it is most needed for visualizing deep tissue cavities. The light source is positioned to illuminate the immediate surgical field, providing targeted visibility without requiring complex external illumination systems.
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 integrated illumination within the suction device enhances surgical visibility without the need for external light sources, reducing procedural challenges, costs, and simplifying cleaning and sterilization processes while maintaining flexibility and safety during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an illuminated suction device includes a distal end having a suction tip; a proximal end having a connector for a suction tube; and an illumination assembly including at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device for energizing the light source
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminated suction device comprising a suction tube, an illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery, and an activation device for energizing the light source, and a container partially enclosing the illumination assembly and the suction tube, wherein the container and a side of the suction tube hold the illumination assembly therebetween.