Monolithic Endoscope Cleaning Valve for Low-Cost Single Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable cleaning valves for medical devices, such as endoscopes, are costly and complex due to numerous components, requiring separate manufacturing and reprocessing, which increases operational expenses and infection risks.
Innovation Solution
A disposable cleaning valve with a monolithic design that integrates multiple components, such as seals and a valve stem, reducing the number of parts and assembly steps, and eliminating the need for reprocessing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reusable cleaning valve with multiple separate components is used, then the valve can be repaired and reused, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (valve stem, seals, spring, housing) into a single integrated monolithic structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly of individual parts, directly reducing device complexity while maintaining the cleaning valve's functional reliability through its unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a disposable single-use cleaning valve that eliminates the need for complex repair and reprocessing procedures. By designing a simple monolithic structure that can be discarded after one use, the invention reduces manufacturing costs and device complexity compared to reusable valves requiring multiple replaceable components.
2Productivity
If a reusable cleaning valve is used, then it can be reused after cleaning, but the reprocessing cost and infection risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable single-use cleaning valve that is discarded after one procedure. This eliminates infection risks associated with reprocessing reusable valves while keeping costs low due to the simple monolithic design requiring minimal manufacturing resources compared to complex reusable valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cleaning valve from the reusable endoscope system, making it a separate single-use component. This separation allows the valve to be discarded after one use, eliminating cross-contamination risks between procedures while the expensive reusable endoscope can be safely reprocessed.
3Ease of repair
If multiple separate components are manufactured and assembled, then the valve can be repaired, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple replaceable components into a single monolithic structure manufactured as one piece. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes for individual components, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and assembly complexity while making the valve disposable rather than repairable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adopts a disposable approach where the simple monolithic valve is manufactured at low cost and discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for expensive repair capabilities while maintaining economic efficiency through low-unit-cost manufacturing of the integrated structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A medical cleaning valve (or cleaning valve) may be configured to provide cleaning functionality to fluid (e.g., air and water) channels of an endoscope. Many embodiments described herein may include a cleaning valve (or valve) that is appropriate for single-use and therefore may be disposable. Accordingly, the valve may be made from a limited number of parts and materials, e.g., to limit its cost and/or manufacturing complexity. For example, multiple seals may be integrally formed with a valve stem. In another example, the valve may have an interface member, which may combine and simplify the functionality of a number of components, such as by connecting the valve stem to a valve well, sealing an opening to a lumen in the valve stem, and/or biasing the valve stem into a position relative to the valve well.