Medical Probe Cover with Camming Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable probe covers for medical instruments are prone to surface imperfections, difficult to remove from stacks, and can become dislodged during use, leading to contamination risks and manual handling issues.
Innovation Solution
A removable protective cover with a flexible tubular body, radially disposed flange, and snap-on fasteners secured by a camming surface and ejector mechanism, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from the instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If probe covers are stacked one inside another for packaging and shipping, then storage space is optimized, but removal from the stack becomes extremely difficult and covers can become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The probe cover is segmented into distinct functional zones: a tapered leading end for easy insertion into the stack, a cylindrical body portion for nested stacking, and a flared trailing end with a flange for easy gripping and removal. This segmentation allows the cover to be easily stacked while maintaining ease of removal by providing a accessible gripping surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure acts as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the probe cover body. By providing a flared trailing end with a flange that extends beyond the cover body, the design creates an accessible intermediary surface that facilitates easy gripping and removal without requiring direct manipulation of the tightly nested cover body.
2Ease of manufacture
If irregularly formed covers are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the covers can bind in the stack and require manual handling during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The probe cover incorporates a dynamic camming surface on its trailing end that interacts with a cam follower on the probe. As the cover is pulled off the probe, the camming surface converts the linear pulling motion into rotational motion of the cam follower, which automatically rotates the cover to disengage from the probe tip. This dynamic mechanism eliminates the need for manual rotation or handling during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The camming surface is pre-configured on the cover during manufacturing to work with the cam follower on the probe. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the cover is pulled off, the camming action automatically occurs without requiring additional manual steps, thereby preventing the need for unwanted manual handling of potentially contaminated products.
3Reliability
If tight tolerances are required for cover geometry, then the cover secures better to the instrument, but manufacturing becomes more difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The probe cover design incorporates specific geometric parameters: a tapered leading end with a gradual angle, a cylindrical body portion with consistent diameter, and a flared trailing end with a flange. These parameter changes create a geometry that naturally secures to the probe through friction and geometric interference while being manufacturable using standard molding techniques. The tapered section provides self-centering and secure fit without requiring extremely tight tolerances.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cover is made flexible to accommodate instrument geometry, then the cover fits better, but the cover can become dislodged during examination
Solution Approach 1:
The probe cover is segmented into a flexible tubular body portion that can accommodate instrument geometry and a rigid flange at the trailing end that provides structural support for secure attachment. The flexible body conforms to the probe shape while the rigid flange with its extended perimeter provides a stable base for the camming mechanism and prevents dislodgement during use.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A removable protective cover for an insertion probe of a medical instrument. The cover contains a flexible tubular body that compliments the probe geometry and a radially disposed flange that surrounds the proximal end of the body. A series of snap-on fasteners removably connect the cover to the instrument. A camming surface is located on the outer face of the flange which coacts with a cam follower that is movably mounted upon the instrument to flex the cover sufficiently to open the fastener and release the cover from the instrument and move the cover axially toward the distal end of the tip.