Plasma Treatment for Medical Scope Optical Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical scopes, particularly endoscopes and laparoscopes, face issues with fogging due to condensation on their optical surfaces during medical procedures, which impairs the surgeon's view and requires frequent lens cleaning, disrupting the procedure.

Innovation Solution

A plasma treatment system is developed to increase the hydrophilicity of optical elements on medical instruments, creating a thin, even film barrier on the surfaces to prevent condensation distortion, using a plasma generation device that applies a plasma field to the optical elements before insertion into the body cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the viewport is exposed to humid and warm environment during medical procedures, then condensation occurs on the optical surface, but the surgeon's view becomes blurred and requires frequent cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical clarityVSAvoidcondensation on viewport

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element is subjected to plasma treatment before insertion into the patient's body to increase its hydrophilicity. This preliminary action modifies the surface properties of the viewport so that when it encounters humid conditions during the procedure, condensation forms a uniform thin film rather than droplets, maintaining optical clarity without requiring frequent cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The plasma treatment process changes the surface energy parameters of the optical element, specifically increasing its hydrophilicity. This parameter change causes the contact angle of condensation to decrease, transforming the condensation pattern from droplet formation to uniform film distribution, thereby preventing fogging and maintaining reliable optical transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If plasma treatment is applied to increase hydrophilicity of optical elements, then condensation distortion is inhibited, but the treatment process adds time and complexity to procedure preparation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of condensation distortionVSAvoidplasma treatment system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical coating systems with a plasma treatment system that uses electromagnetic fields to modify surface properties. The plasma generator creates reactive species that chemically interact with the optical surface to increase hydrophilicity, eliminating the need for mechanical application of hydrophilic coatings and simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliable condensation prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If plasma treatment creates a uniform moisture film on optical surfaces, then optical quality is maintained, but energy is consumed during the treatment process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of moisture filmVSAvoidenergy for plasma generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The plasma treatment is applied as a periodic, pulsed process rather than continuous treatment. The plasma generator operates in cycles, creating plasma bursts that gradually build up the hydrophilic surface modification. This periodic action reduces overall energy consumption while achieving the desired uniform moisture film distribution on the optical surface, maintaining optical quality without excessive energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 plasma treatment effectively inhibits condensation distortion on medical instrument optics, maintaining optical quality and reducing the need for frequent lens cleaning during procedures by forming a uniform moisture film that prevents fogging.

Implementation Method 1

A plasma treatment system is developed to increase the hydrophilicity of optical elements on medical instruments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma treatment: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

increase the hydrophilicity of optical elements on medical instruments, creating a thin, even film barrier on the surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophilicity: Hydrophile

Implementation Method 3

creating a thin, even film barrier on the surfaces to prevent condensation distortion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFilm formation: Thin Films

Data Source

PatentUS11896203B2Methods and systems for providing plasma treatments to optical surfaces

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 PLASMATICA LTD

AI summary

A device for inhibiting condensation distortion on an optical element of a medical instrument configured for insertion into a body cavity is provided. The device may include a housing; a cavity within the housing, the cavity being sized to removably retain at least a portion of the medical instrument therein, wherein the portion includes the optical element; a plasma activation zone within the cavity and arranged such that when the at least a portion of the medical instrument is retained within the cavity, the optical element is located within the plasma activation zone; a plasma generator configured to be activated to cause formation of a plasma cloud in the plasma activation zone in a vicinity of the optical element; and a controller configured to activate the plasma generator for a time period sufficient to cause the optical element to become hydrophilic prior to insertion into the body cavity.