Surgical Device Moisture Control via Valve System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical devices face challenges in thorough cleaning and drying, particularly due to the complexity of their designs and the need for effective moisture control to facilitate reuse and sterilization.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical device with a valve system and a method that includes a biasing element to control fluid flow, allowing for selective engagement and disengagement of ports to enable thorough cleaning and drying, utilizing a combination of mechanical and thermal triggers for optimal moisture management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If surgical devices are designed with complex structures to enable various surgical functions, then device functionality is improved, but cleaning and drying thoroughness deteriorates due to difficulty accessing internal channels and ports
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is configured to enable preliminary flushing of internal channels before sterilization. The flush port allows cleaning fluid to be introduced and circulated through the device interior before the actual sterilization process, ensuring that organic material is removed in advance to prevent interference with subsequent sterilization steps.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate flush port and valve system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external cleaning environment and the internal device channels. This intermediary system enables thorough cleaning without requiring direct exposure of the entire device to harsh cleaning conditions, allowing selective flushing of internal passages while protecting sensitive components.
2Reliability
If ports and channels are kept closed to prevent fluid ingress during storage, then device protection is improved, but moisture removal during cleaning deteriorates due to trapped fluid inside
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system provides dynamic control over port opening and closing states. During the cleaning process, the first valve opens the flush port to enable fluid egress, then closes it at the appropriate time to prevent over-saturation. This dynamic control allows the system to transition between moisture removal mode and protection mode, optimizing both drying efficiency and device protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing element continuously urges the valve toward the closed position, maintaining a default protective state. This continuous action ensures that ports remain sealed during storage and transport, preventing fluid ingress. The system maintains this protective state until deliberately overridden by the flushing operation, ensuring continuous protection without requiring active intervention.
3Reliability
If valves are designed to remain closed to maintain fluid-tight seals, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation for cleaning deteriorates due to difficulty opening valves
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing element provides self-service by automatically returning the valve to the closed position after flushing operations. This eliminates the need for manual intervention to reset the valve state, allowing the system to service itself by maintaining its default protective configuration without requiring additional操作步骤 from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is segmented into distinct functional components: the valve body, the biasing element, and the actuation mechanism. This segmentation allows the biasing element to independently manage the default closed state while the actuation mechanism handles opening operations, separating the sealing function from the operation function and improving both reliability and ease of use.
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
This solution ensures efficient cleaning and drying of surgical devices, preventing fluid ingress and facilitating the removal of moisture, thereby ensuring the devices are properly sanitized for reuse.
Implementation Method 1
the biasing element is a compression spring
Implementation Method 2
the biasing element is configured to urge the engagement portion of the valve radially outward and into the occluding position
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device including a handle assembly, an elongated portion, at least one window, an end effector, and a shroud is disclosed. The at least one window extends through an outer wall of the elongated portion and is configured to allow fluid to travel therethrough from an interior portion of the elongated portion to ambient air. The end effector is configured to selectively engage a distal portion of the elongated portion. The shroud is affixed to the end effector and extends proximally therefrom. The shroud is configured to cover the at least one window when the end effector is engaged with the elongated portion.