Segmented Endoscope with Disposable Cannula for Cost Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopes for hysteroscopy are expensive, cumbersome, and require skilled staff and extensive maintenance, limiting their use in time-critical settings and office environments due to the complexity and cost of equipment and sterilization procedures.

Innovation Solution

A low-cost, hand-held medical instrument with a single-use portion for insertion into the uterus and a multiple-use portion for imaging and fluid delivery, allowing for endoscopically-guided operative procedures without the need for extensive sterilization, featuring a working channel for operative devices and a reusable display for live video imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for hysteroscopy, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but equipment cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope is divided into two distinct portions: a single-use portion that contacts the patient and is discarded after one use, and a multiple-use portion containing the display and control systems that can be reused. This segmentation eliminates the need to sterilize expensive electronic components while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single-use portion of the endoscope is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after one patient use. This eliminates sterilization requirements for the entire device and reduces the risk of cross-contamination, while the expensive multiple-use portion is protected from contamination through fluid barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for hysteroscopy, then imaging capability is improved, but time required for sterilization and setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging capabilityVSAvoidsterilization time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the endoscope into single-use and multiple-use portions, the system eliminates the time-consuming sterilization process for the entire device. The single-use portion is pre-packaged and sterile, requiring no sterilization, while the multiple-use portion is protected from contamination by fluid barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single-use portion is pre-packaged in sterile condition before use. This preliminary sterilization eliminates the need for on-site sterilization procedures, reducing setup time and allowing the device to be ready for immediate use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for hysteroscopy, then visualization quality is improved, but operational ease deteriorates due to cumbersome design

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization qualityVSAvoidoperational ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The separation into single-use and multiple-use portions allows the multiple-use portion to be optimized for ease of operation with ergonomic design, while the single-use portion contains the cumbersome insertion components that are discarded after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for hysteroscopy, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but cost of equipment and supplies increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the endoscope into single-use and multiple-use portions allows the expensive components (display, controls, electronics) to be reused across multiple patients, while only the cheaper single-use portion needs to be replaced. This significantly reduces overall equipment cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single-use portion is designed as a low-cost disposable component that can be manufactured economically and discarded after one use, eliminating expensive sterilization processes and reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

5Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for hysteroscopy, then imaging capability is improved, but skill requirement for staff increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging capabilityVSAvoidskill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The simplified single-use/multiple-use design with integrated fluid barriers reduces the complexity of sterilization and maintenance procedures, allowing staff with less specialized training to operate the system effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10362926B2Low-cost instrument for endoscopically guided operative procedures

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 COOPERSURGICAL INC

AI summary

Installments and methods are described for performing endoscopically guided operative procedures. According to some embodiments, a re-usable portion of the instrument includes a handle, electronics and an integrated display screen while a fluid hub and a cannula which includes a CMOS imaging module and LED lighting, form a single use portion of the instrument. The cannula includes a working channel configured to accept an operative device for performing the operative procedures.