Modular Ultrasound-Endoscope Coupling for Sterile Probe Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasound probes are incompatible with hospital sterilization procedures, making them costly to reuse, and their coupling to endoscopes is often fixed, requiring both to undergo post-procedure treatment.
Innovation Solution
A disposable ultrasound probe is removably coupled to an endoscope via a modular coupling bracket, allowing independent disposal and adaptable to various endoscope dimensions, with a cable divided into reusable and disposable parts to facilitate sterilization-free reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed coupling method is used to attach the ultrasound probe to the endoscope, then the connection is stable and reliable, but both the probe and endoscope must undergo post-procedure sterilization treatment, increasing operational costs and reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket is designed with a reusable portion that attaches to the endoscope and a disposable portion that attaches to the ultrasound probe. This segmentation allows the disposable portion to be discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for sterilization of the ultrasound probe and cable, while the reusable portion can be sterilized and reused. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable connection during use while improving operational efficiency through selective disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling bracket incorporates a releasable connection mechanism that allows dynamic transition from a fixed, stable connection during the procedure to easy separation after the procedure. The connection is sufficiently secure during use to maintain reliability but can be quickly released to enable disposal of the disposable portion, thus improving productivity without sacrificing connection stability during operation.
2Productivity
If a disposable ultrasound probe is used, then sterilization costs are reduced and procedural flexibility is enhanced, but the coupling mechanism becomes more complex requiring modular components
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket is divided into distinct reusable and disposable portions with standardized interfaces. The reusable portion contains the complex sterilizable components that attach to the endoscope, while the disposable portion contains the probe interface. This segmentation manages complexity by localizing it to specific modules rather than the entire assembly, allowing procedural flexibility through disposable use while containing the complexity in reusable, sterilizable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reusable portion of the coupling bracket is designed with universal attachment capabilities that can interface with different endoscope types, while the disposable portion provides standardized probe connection. This universality reduces overall system complexity by using standardized interfaces and allows the same reusable bracket to work with multiple probes, enhancing procedural flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the ultrasound probe is permanently attached to the endoscope, then the system is simpler to operate, but both components require post-procedure treatment and cannot be independently reused
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bracket provides a dynamic connection that appears fixed and simple during the procedure, ensuring ease of operation, but allows for quick release and separation after the procedure. This enables the disposable portion to be independently discarded and the reusable portion to be independently sterilized and reused with different probes, thus achieving adaptability and versatility without significantly complicating the operational simplicity during use.
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-effective, sterile, and versatile ultrasound imaging during endoscopic procedures by allowing the ultrasound probe to be easily detached and reused without damaging the endoscope, reducing operational costs and enhancing procedural flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound probe comprising a plurality of transducer elements emits ultrasonic pulses which reflect, echo, refract, or are absorbed by structures in the body
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasound probe then receives reflected echoes, which are processed into an image
Data Source
AI summary
Various methods and systems are provided for ultrasound-assisted endoscopy. An ultrasound-assisted endoscopy system may include a selectively positioned bracket with an opening for receiving an endoscope and an array of transducer elements of an ultrasound probe that are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the endoscope. The ultrasound probe may be coupled to the endoscope by the selectively positioned bracket, which may be configured to acquire an image along the longitudinal axis.