Modular Hand-Operated Endoscope With Sterilizable Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-operated endoscopes for medical purposes are cumbersome due to multiple individual units and face significant wear and reduced service life from regular sterilization, which complicates practical use and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular design hand-operated endoscope with a sterilizable external housing and a removable module containing the camera, optical unit, light source, and transmission system, allowing for separate sterilization of components and reduced cable connections, enabling improved sterilization and illumination with a shank/trocar system and radio data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endoscope is sterilized regularly, then the hygiene requirements are met, but the sensitive optical and electronic components suffer increased wear and reduced service life
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into two separate parts: a sterilizable housing and a non-sterilizable module containing sensitive components. The housing can be sterilized independently without exposing the camera, optical unit, light source, and transmission system to harsh sterilization conditions, thus extending their service life while meeting hygiene requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensitive components (camera, optical unit, light source, transmission system) are extracted from the housing as a removable module. This module can be easily detached and replaced, allowing the housing to be sterilized separately while the sensitive components remain protected from sterilization damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the endoscope consists of multiple individual units, then the functional requirements are met, but the system becomes very unwieldy in practical use
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components (camera, optical unit, light source, transmission system) are merged into a single integrated module that can be easily inserted into and removed from the housing. This maintains all necessary functions while significantly improving ease of operation compared to handling multiple separate units.
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 modular design extends the service life of the endoscope, simplifies sterilization, reduces complexity and improves safety during surgery preparation, and allows for convenient documentation and control functions.
Implementation Method 1
A light source is connected to this optical unit by means of an optical waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
A hand operated endoscope for medical purposes, the endoscope including a separate, modular unit consisting of a camera system with an associate lens system, light source and a transmission system. This unsterilized modular unit can be used in a sterilized housing.