Surgical Instrument Heating Pad with Segmented Exothermic Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope and laparoscope warming systems are costly and unnecessarily complex, with the need for a simpler and more affordable solution to prevent fogging during minimally invasive surgical procedures, as current systems often require additional cleaning mechanisms and lack detailed activation methods for exothermic chemical reactions.
Innovation Solution
A flexible heating pad with separate chambers containing a mixture of water and sodium acetate, activated by a stainless steel disc, is designed to generate heat through an exothermic reaction, wrapped around the instrument to maintain a consistent temperature and prevent fogging, optionally using a heat-conductive tube for enhanced heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a chemical heating pad is used to warm the instrument, then the cost is reduced and the system is simplified, but the temperature control consistency and activation method detail are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The heating pad is divided into multiple separate chambers, each containing a portion of the sodium acetate solution and activated by individual discs. This segmentation allows for better distribution of heat sources and more consistent temperature control across the entire heating surface, while maintaining the simplicity and low cost of the chemical heating system.
2Ease of operation
If a cleaning mechanism is added to the heating system, then the lens cleaning function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted as a separate, optional component rather than being integrated into the heating system. The housing may optionally include a recess to receive a foam cleaner, allowing the cleaning function to be added only when needed without complicating the core heating mechanism. This resolves the contradiction by providing cleaning capability while maintaining system simplicity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If exothermic chemical reactions are used for heating, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the activation method detail and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sodium acetate solution is prepared in advance in a supercooled state within sealed chambers, ready for immediate activation. The activation discs are pre-positioned in each chamber, and the user simply needs to manipulate the disc to initiate the exothermic reaction. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable and consistent activation without requiring complex controls, maintaining high energy efficiency while improving reliability.
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 solution provides a low-cost, effective method to prevent fogging in medical viewers by maintaining a consistent temperature, reducing the need for complex cleaning mechanisms and providing a straightforward activation method for exothermic reactions, thus improving surgical visibility.
Implementation Method 1
a mixture of water and sodium acetate to generate heat through an exothermic reaction initiated through manual manipulation of the disc for that chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated method is used for warming an endoscope, laparoscope, or other such instrument to minimize fogging. A flexible pad has a length, a width and a periphery for wrapping around the instrument and a plurality of separate chambers defined through partitions. Each of the separate chambers includes an activation disc and a mixture of water and sodium acetate to generate heat through an exothermic reaction initiated through manual manipulation of the disc for that chamber. The pad is preferably made from two plastic sheets of substantially equal size, with the chambers being formed by heat-sealing or otherwise bonding the periphery of the sheets and the partitions. At least some of the partitions establish lengthwise and/or widthwise fold lines in the pad. At least one of the partitions may include a gap to facilitate fluid transfer of the mixture. The disc is preferably made of perforated stainless steel. A housing may be provided to contain the pad in sleeve form, and an optional heat-conductive tube may be used to receive the instrument around which the pad is wrapped.