Single-Use Laryngoscope Handle with Frangible Detachment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laryngoscope handles, despite their sturdy metal constructions, face challenges in sterilization due to complexity and cost, necessitating a low-cost, single-use solution that ensures secure mounting and easy detachment without tools for ISO 7376 compatible dual component assemblies.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates low-cost plastic components, including a plastic hand grip and end cap, with a frangible member for secure initial attachment and easy manual detachment, ensuring the handle is usable once and cannot be reattached, facilitating single-use operation and easy recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a sturdy metal construction is used for the laryngoscope handle, then the structural strength and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing cost and sterilization complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing a laryngoscope handle that is intended for single use only. The handle includes a frangible member that breaks after one use, preventing reuse and eliminating the need for sterilization. This resolves the contradiction by accepting reduced structural strength in exchange for eliminating sterilization complexity and reducing manufacturing costs through simpler materials and design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic and modifies the structural parameter by incorporating a frangible member designed to break after single use. This parameter change enables the handle to be manufactured more simply and cheaply while maintaining sufficient strength for single-use operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing ease.
2Ease of operation
If a frangible member is designed to break on minor manual detachment force, then the ease of operation for detachment is improved, but the reliability of secure mounting during use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible member is pre-positioned and pre-loaded within the handle structure during manufacturing. It is designed to remain intact and provide secure mounting during normal use, then break when subjected to specific detachment forces. This preliminary action ensures both reliable mounting during operation and easy detachment when needed, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible member transitions from a static load-bearing component during use to a broken state during detachment. This dynamic behavior allows the member to provide reliable secure mounting during the intubation procedure, then easily break under minor manual detachment force, resolving the contradiction between secure mounting reliability and ease of detachment.
Data Source
AI summary
Single use laryngoscope handle for use in an ISO 7376 compatible dual component laryngoscope assembly with an illumination arrangement. The laryngoscope handle includes a plastic hand grip, a plastic end cap, and at least one plastic frangible member for engaging a hand grip and an end cap in a pre-actuated position of an end cap which is broken on application of a relatively minor manual detachment force to the end cap, thereby precluding subsequent use of the laryngoscope handle.