Rectoscope Cover With Frangible Windows for Fluid Egress Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rectoscopes face the risk of undesired fluid egress during and after insertion due to pressure differences, posing health and hygiene risks to surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A rectoscope design featuring a movable cover with a hermetic seal and frangible windows, along with a cannula for controlled air flow, prevents fluid egress by allowing controlled access and dilation, reducing pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a cover is used to occlude the proximal opening during air introduction, then air flow to dilate the anal walls is improved, but there is a risk of fluid egress after opening the cover due to pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal opening is segmented into multiple openings, each occluded by a frangible seal rather than a single cover. This allows controlled access while maintaining containment, as each seal can be individually pierced to allow air flow or fluid egress based on pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible seals are pre-installed to occlude the openings before use. During air introduction, these seals maintain containment until the pressure differential naturally causes them to fail, at which point they allow controlled fluid egress without requiring manual cover removal that could cause uncontrolled spraying.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is opened to insert inspection instruments, then access to the inner volume is improved, but fluid may exit due to pressure differences causing discomfort to the surgeon
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single cover that must be fully removed for instrument access, the proximal opening is divided into multiple smaller openings with individual frangible seals. Instruments can be inserted through specific sealed openings that are then pierced, allowing access while maintaining containment in other openings and enabling controlled pressure equalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible seals act as intermediaries between the inner volume and the external environment. They allow controlled transition from a sealed state to an open state, mediating the pressure differential to prevent uncontrolled fluid egress while still permitting instrument insertion and air flow.
3Ease of operation
If air is introduced into the dilator body to dilate the anal canal, then insertion is facilitated, but there is a risk of air exiting from the proximal opening
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal opening is segmented into multiple smaller openings, each with its own frangible seal. This segmentation allows air to be introduced through the cannula while the seals maintain containment, preventing air loss. When needed, individual seals can be pierced to allow controlled air release without compromising overall containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible seals are designed as disposable, single-use components that provide temporary containment. They are inexpensive and can be pierced or removed after serving their purpose of preventing air and fluid egress during the critical insertion and dilation phases.
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 design effectively prevents fluid egress, ensuring safe and comfortable inspection operations without discomfort to the surgeon.
Implementation Method 1
a cannula adapted to favour, when the cover is in the first position, a communication of air from the outside of the dilator body to the inner volume
Implementation Method 2
configured to produce a flow of air that, when the cover is in the first position, allows a thrust action to be generated through the distal opening that allows dilation of the cavity
Data Source
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AI summary
A rectoscope (1) for inspecting a cavity of an individual, comprising a dilator body (2), extending prevalently along a longitudinal axis (X), between a proximal end (21) and a distal end (22), wherein the proximal end (21) and the distal end (22) are connected by a side wall (23) and define, together with said side wall (23), an inner volume (V). The dilator body (2) comprises in the proximal end (21) a cover (4) movable between a first position, in which the cover (4) defines a closing of a proximal opening (PO) of the proximal end (21), and a second position in which the cover (4) is moved away from the proximal opening (PO) so as to make the inner volume (V) of the dilator body (2) accessible. The cover (4) comprises at least one window (5) made of a frangible material and breakable in use, when the cover (4) is in said first position, to allow a controlled access to the inner volume (V) of the dilator body (2).