Speculum-Free Pap Smear Guide with Integrated Camera and Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Pap smear procedures are uncomfortable and painful for many women due to the use of a speculum, leading to delayed or avoided screenings, which can result in undiagnosed preventable cancer.
Innovation Solution
A protective guide that encloses a camera and light emitting device, allowing for the location of the cervix without a speculum, using a thin, flexible transparent sheath and a cell extraction device cover, enabling cell collection without speculum insertion, and optionally incorporating an endoscope for visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a speculum is used to spread open the vagina for Pap smear, then access to the cervix is achieved, but patient comfort and pain levels deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the speculum from the Pap smear procedure. By using a protective guide with integrated lighting and camera systems, the patent eliminates the need for speculum insertion, thereby removing the source of patient pain and fear while maintaining access to the cervix for cell collection
Solution Approach 2:
The protective guide serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the procedure, integrates lighting to illuminate the cervix, incorporates a camera for visualization and documentation, and guides the cell extraction device. This multi-functional design replaces the speculum's access-providing function without causing discomfort
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a camera and lighting system are integrated into the protective guide, then visualization of the cervix is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective guide with the camera and lighting system into a single integrated device. The camera and LEDs are housed within the protective guide structure itself, combining protection, visualization, and illumination functions into one unified component rather than separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The camera and lighting components are nested within the protective guide structure. The LEDs and camera are positioned inside the guide's housing, with the camera lens and light apertures accessible through the guide's wall, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes overall device complexity
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
This method provides a more comfortable and efficient Pap smear procedure, reducing pain and fear, while allowing for efficient cell collection and data collection for patient records and medical research.
Implementation Method 1
a camera and light emitting device
Data Source
AI summary
A protective guide for protecting a cell extraction device during a Pap smear. A camera protective cover encloses a camera and a light emitting device. A thin, flexible transparent sheath encloses the camera cover. A cell extraction device cover encloses the cell extraction device. The location of the cervix is determined by utilizing the camera. The cell extraction device is pushed outward from the cell extraction device cover so that said cell extraction device head contacts the cervix and removes cells from the cervix. The cell extraction device is pulled back into the cell extraction device cover after the cells have been removed from the cervix. In a preferred embodiment the camera and light emitting device is an endoscope and the camera cover is an endoscope cover.