Reusable Oral Examination Device with Fluorescence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral cancer screening methods are costly and require frequent use of disposable materials, which is inefficient and unsustainable.
Innovation Solution
A portable oral examination device comprising a cylindrical housing with a light-emitting diode (LED) emitting blue or violet light, an optical filtering component, and a rechargeable battery, which is designed for reuse and includes a method for disinfection and sterilization, allowing for non-invasive detection of oral mucosal abnormalities without disposable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable materials are used for oral cancer screening, then hygiene and contamination prevention are improved, but cost and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sterilization methods (autoclave, chemical sterilants, UV irradiation, microwave, or ethylene oxide gas) to recover and reuse the examination device instead of discarding it after single use. This allows the device to be discarded and recovered through sterilization, eliminating waste while maintaining hygiene standards for repeated use
2Reliability
If disposable materials are used for oral cancer screening, then hygiene is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be sterilized and reused through multiple methods (autoclave, chemical sterilants, UV irradiation, microwave, or ethylene oxide gas), eliminating the need for continuous purchase of disposable materials and significantly reducing operational costs while maintaining hygiene standards
3Loss of substance
If reusable components are used, then cost and waste are reduced, but hygiene maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates multiple sterilization methods (autoclave, chemical sterilants, UV irradiation, microwave, or ethylene oxide gas) that make hygiene maintenance simple and effective. The device can be easily sterilized by placing it in an autoclave, exposing to UV light, or treating with chemical sterilants, making reusable components easy to maintain hygienically
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes built-in features such as removable caps and openable chambers that facilitate self-sterilization. The examination port cap can be removed and the port opened for sterilization, allowing the device to serve itself in maintaining hygiene without complex external procedures
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 provides an efficient and cost-effective means for detecting oral cancer and pre-cancerous regions through fluorescence, reducing waste and maintaining hygiene with reusable components and effective disinfection methods.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting diode (LED) emitting blue or violet light
Implementation Method 2
detecting oral cancer and pre-cancerous regions through fluorescence
Implementation Method 3
an optical filtering component
Data Source
AI summary
A housing containing an electrical energy source is coupled between a first end cap comprising a control and an interstitial member comprising an LED selectively electrically couplable to the electrical energy source by the control, and a second end cap coupled to the interstitial member comprises an optical filtering component in optical alignment with light emitted by the LED. At least a portion of an exterior of at least one of the housing, the first end cap, the interstitial member, and the second end cap may have a cross-sectional shape that is not substantially circular. The end caps, housing, interstitial member, and optical filtering component may each be sealingly interconnected. A method of using the apparatus may comprise directing light emitted by the apparatus into a human oral cavity without inserting the apparatus into the human oral cavity.