Reusable Laryngoscope with Disposable Protective Case
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laryngoscopes used for endotracheal interventions are not reusable due to hygiene concerns, requiring disposal after a single use, which increases costs and resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A laryngoscope design featuring a protective case that encloses the main body, allowing it to remain sterile and reusable, while the case is disposable, incorporating an optical system with lenses, mirrors, and an illumination point for clear visualization and minimizing cervical trauma during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the laryngoscope body is reused, then resource consumption and costs are reduced, but hygiene and sterility cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The laryngoscope is divided into two segments: a reusable main body containing the optical system and a disposable protective case. The protective case is discarded after single use to ensure hygiene, while the expensive main body can be reused multiple times, thus resolving the contradiction between resource conservation and sterility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A protective case acts as an intermediary between the reusable main body and the patient's body. This intermediate layer ensures sterility during use while allowing the main body to remain protected and reusable, solving the conflict between reusability and hygiene.
2Ease of operation
If the laryngoscope body comes into direct contact with patient tissue, then intervention effectiveness is improved, but the device becomes contaminated and unusable for future interventions
Solution Approach 1:
A disposable protective case is used as a single-use component that directly contacts the patient tissue. This allows effective intervention while ensuring the expensive main body remains uncontaminated and reusable, resolving the contradiction between operational effectiveness and device reusability.
3Reliability
If a protective case is added, then sterility and reusability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a permanent main body and a disposable protective case. This segmentation adds minimal structural complexity while achieving sterility and reusability goals, as the protective case is a simple disposable component rather than a complex integrated system.
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
Facilitates safe and effective endotracheal interventions by maintaining sterility of the main body, reducing cervical injury risk, and enabling quick reuse of the laryngoscope, thus lowering disposal rates and costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system formed by a lens provided at the rear end and a succession of mirrors and lenses longitudinally distributed along the interior part, incorporating a luminous point at the front end
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an illuminated optical laryngoscope formed by an assembly, longitudinally defining a first straight segment and a second curved segment and comprising a main body (1) that is inserted into a tubular protective case (2). The curved segment of the main body (1) is formed by successive segments hinged to one another.