Replaceable Oximeter Probe Tips for Cost-Effective Sterile Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oximeters face challenges in reducing cost of use and reuse, particularly in surgical and sterile environments where accurate spot measurements are required, and there is a need for improved tissue oximetry devices that can maintain accuracy while allowing for cost-effective reuse.
Innovation Solution
A wireless, handheld tissue oximeter with a detachable and replaceable probe tip, where the probe unit houses expensive electronic components, and the probe tip is disposable, allowing for reuse of the unit and cost-effective replacement of contaminated tips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire oximeter probe is made disposable, then contamination is eliminated, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The oximeter probe is divided into two segments: a reusable probe unit containing expensive electronic components (light sources, detectors, processor) and a disposable probe tip that contacts the tissue. This segmentation allows the contaminated probe tip to be discarded while reusing the expensive probe unit, reducing overall cost while maintaining reliability through tip replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The probe tip is designed as a disposable, low-cost component that is replaced after each use or when contaminated. This allows the system to eliminate contamination risks without requiring the entire expensive probe unit to be disposable, thereby reducing waste and cost
2Quantity of substance
If expensive electronic components are placed in the reusable probe unit, then cost is reduced through reuse, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the expensive electronic components ( housed in the probe unit) from the contamination-prone probe tip. The probe tip acts as a barrier that can be easily replaced, protecting the expensive electronics from contamination while allowing cost-effective reuse of the probe unit
Solution Approach 2:
The probe tip serves as an intermediary component between the tissue and the expensive electronic components. It absorbs the contamination risk, allowing the probe unit to be reused without direct contact with potentially contaminated tissue fluids
3Productivity
If the probe tip is made detachable and replaceable, then reuse of probe unit is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oximeter probe is segmented into a reusable probe unit and a replaceable probe tip, connected through a simple mechanical interface. This segmentation enables the probe tip to be quickly detached and replaced without complex procedures, facilitating reuse of the expensive probe unit while maintaining operational simplicity
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
Enables cost-effective reuse of the oximeter probe unit by allowing the probe tip to be replaced, maintaining accuracy in surgical and sterile environments, and reducing overall costs through the separation of expensive components from the disposable tip.
Implementation Method 1
Light absorption differs significantly for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobins at certain wavelengths of light. Tissue oximeters can measure oxygen levels in human tissue by exploiting these light-absorption differences.
Implementation Method 2
The probe unit includes self-contained optics (sources and detectors), computer processing, a display, and a power-supply (battery)
Data Source
AI summary
An oximeter device has a replaceable probe tip. The probe tip can be removed or detached from the probe unit and discarded. A replacement probe tip can be attached to the probe tip. The replaceable probe tip allows the probe unit to be reused many times, each time with new sterile probe tip.