Laparoscopic Oximeter Sheath for Sterile Probe Reuse

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oximeters face challenges in reusability, measurement accuracy, cost, size, and ecological impact, necessitating improvements for efficient reuse and sterility maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A laparoscopic oximeter device with a detachable laparoscopic tube and a reusable probe unit, protected by a sterile sheath, allowing for cost-effective and ecological reuse while maintaining sterility during surgical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire oximeter device is disposable, then sterility is ensured for each surgery, but cost increases and ecological impact worsens due to repeated disposal of functional components

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidwaste of costly circuitry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The oximeter device is divided into two separate components: a disposable laparoscopic tube that ensures sterility and a reusable probe unit that contains the costly circuitry. This segmentation allows the sterile portion to be discarded after single use while the expensive electronic components are preserved for multiple surgeries, resolving the contradiction between sterility requirements and resource waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sterile sheath is introduced as an intermediary component that houses the reusable probe unit during surgical procedures. The sheath can be sterilized and reused multiple times, acting as a barrier that maintains sterility without requiring the entire device to be disposable. This intermediary solution protects the valuable circuitry while ensuring surgical sterility standards are met.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a new probe unit is used for each surgery, then sterility is maintained, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into disposable and reusable portions, allowing the expensive probe unit with circuitry to be manufactured once and reused, while only the simpler laparoscopic tube is disposed of after each use. This dramatically reduces manufacturing costs compared to manufacturing a new complete device for each surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The disposable laparoscopic tube is discarded after single use to maintain sterility, while the valuable probe unit is recovered and reused for subsequent surgeries. This selective discarding and recovery strategy maintains sterility requirements while minimizing manufacturing costs by preserving expensive components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Ease of manufacture

If the probe unit is made reusable, then cost decreases, but risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sterilizable sheath serves as an intermediary barrier between the reusable probe unit and the surgical environment. The sheath can be sterilized between uses and provides a protective barrier that prevents contamination of the probe unit while allowing it to be reused, thus reducing contamination risk while maintaining cost benefits of reusability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A flexible sterile sheath is used to enclose the reusable probe unit during surgical procedures. This thin film barrier protects the probe unit from contamination while allowing it to be reused, effectively managing the contamination risk associated with reusable components.

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 cost savings and ecological conservation by reusing the probe unit, while ensuring sterility and preventing contamination of the reusable components during multiple surgeries.

Implementation Method 1

Light absorption differs significantly for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobins at certain wavelengths of light. Tissue oximeters can measure oxygen levels in human tissue by exploiting these light-absorption differences.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS20250318895A1Laparoscopic Oximeter and Protective Method for Reuse of Portions of the Laparoscopic Oximeter

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 VIOPTIX INC

AI summary

A method for housing a reusable portion of an oximeter device in a sheath includes providing the oximeter device as a probe unit and a laparoscopic tube separated from each other. The probe unit is handled by a first operator in a nonsterile environment and the laparoscopic tube is handled by a second operator in a sterile environment. The first operator connects the probe unit and the laparoscopic tube to form the oximeter device. The sheath is coupled to the laparoscopic tube in a folded configuration and is pulled by the second operator to enclose the probe unit. The oximeter device is in the sterile environment when the probe unit is in the sheath. The oximeter device is for use in an intraoperative procedure and the sheath inhibits the probe unit from contacting contaminants so that the probe unit is reusable, whereas the laparoscopic tube can be disposed of.