Pneumatic Endoscope Washer with Obstruction Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical device reprocessors for endoscopes are energy-intensive, large, and lack the ability to detect obstructions or leaks, leading to increased cleaning and drying times and energy demand.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic device with a multi-way valve and computing unit that uses pressurized gas to move a piston and fluid through the endoscope, allowing for efficient cleaning, disinfection, and drying, while also detecting obstructions and leaks through controlled pressure and actuation signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If hydraulic or centrifugal pumps with impellers are used for cleaning and drying endoscopes, then the cleaning and drying functions are achieved, but the device becomes large in size and has high energy demand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional hydraulic pumps with impellers with a pneumatic system using a diaphragm pump actuated by a linear actuator. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical impeller systems and exhaust ventilation, significantly reducing device size and energy consumption while maintaining effective fluid pumping capability for endoscope cleaning and drying
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a pneumatic diaphragm pump system where compressed air actuates a diaphragm to create pressure oscillations for fluid pumping. This pneumatic approach replaces traditional electric motor-driven hydraulic pumps, reducing both size and energy demand while providing effective cleaning and drying functions through pressure-driven fluid flow
2Productivity
If traditional cleaning and drying systems are used, then the endoscope is cleaned and dried, but the system cannot detect obstructions or leaks, leading to increased cleaning and drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect pressure, flow, and other parameters during the cleaning and drying processes. This feedback mechanism allows the system to identify obstructions or leaks in real-time, automatically adjust operating parameters, and optimize cleaning and drying times while ensuring thorough decontamination
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstructions and leaks before initiating full cleaning and drying cycles. By detecting issues in advance, the system can adjust its operation to avoid wasted time on ineffective cleaning attempts, thereby improving overall productivity without compromising reliability
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 device effectively reduces energy consumption and space requirements while ensuring thorough cleaning and disinfection, and quickly identifies and clears obstructions and leaks, optimizing the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a pneumatic system that converts the compressed air inside the cylinder into kinetic energy
Implementation Method 2
generating a pressure oscillation that overlaps the cleaning fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pneumatic device for washing, disinfecting, and drying medical device canals and methods for detecting obstructions and leaks by means of pneumatic systems (e.g., a double-acting pneumatic cylinder), with which fluids and a pressurized gas are mobilized, a computing unit for monitoring control elements and a multi-way valve. Preferably, the device comprises a mechanical multi-way valve to control the direction of the fluids and the pressurized gas entering the pneumatic device for washing, disinfecting, and drying medical device canals. This allows to carry out the washing, disinfection and drying of at least one of the canals of a medical device and detect obstructions and leaks of the same canal saving energy and using little space, compared to devices that use hydraulic systems generating large sizes and high energy consumption.