Rigidizing Endoscope Sheath for Contamination-Free Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable endoscopes face challenges in cleaning and sterilization due to their complex design and materials, leading to contamination risks, high maintenance costs, environmental impact, and inefficiencies in reprocessing, while disposable scopes contribute to waste and are difficult to recycle.
Innovation Solution
The development of endoscope sheaths that form an impermeable barrier to prevent contamination, allowing endoscopes to be reused multiple times without extensive cleaning, reducing the need for sterilization and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If reusable endoscopes are used to reduce waste, then environmental impact is improved, but cleaning and sterilization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope system is divided into two segments: a reusable endoscope and a disposable sheath. The sheath is applied over the endoscope to provide a sterile barrier, eliminating the need to clean and sterilize the endoscope between patients. This segmentation allows the reusable endoscope to be used multiple times without cleaning while maintaining sterility through the disposable sheath.
Solution Approach 2:
A disposable sheath is introduced as a low-cost, single-use component that covers the reusable endoscope. The sheath is discarded after one use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization procedures for the endoscope. This disposable component solves the contradiction by providing a simple barrier that prevents contamination without requiring extensive reprocessing of the reusable device.
2Reliability
If extensive cleaning and sterilization procedures are performed, then contamination prevention is improved, but time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sheath is applied to the endoscope before the procedure to pre-establish a sterile barrier. This preliminary action ensures contamination prevention is already in place before the patient interaction begins, eliminating the need for time-consuming cleaning and sterilization procedures after use. The sheath is discarded after a single use, providing immediate contamination protection without requiring extensive reprocessing time.
3Ease of manufacture
If reusable endoscopes are used, then cost reduction is improved, but maintenance and repair requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable sheath serves as a protective barrier that prevents contamination of the reusable endoscope. By using the sheath, the endoscope is protected from damage and contamination that would require maintenance and repair. This allows the expensive endoscope to be reused multiple times without degradation, reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath acts as a protective cushion or barrier before the endoscope is used. It prevents direct contact between the endoscope and contaminants, reducing the risk of damage, contamination, and subsequent maintenance issues. This beforehand protection allows the reusable endoscope to maintain its functionality over multiple uses without requiring frequent repairs or maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for preventing contamination of an endoscope may include coupling a sheath device to cover both the inside and outside of the endoscope. The sheath device may include a rigidizing flexible tubular external sheath that extends over the endoscope to form an external protective barrier, a tubular internal sheath that extends within a lumen of the endoscope that forms an internal protective barrier, and a cap sealed to both the external sheath and the internal sheath. The sheath may be rigidized to enhance insertion.