Sensor-Integrated Ureteroscope Tip for Pressure and Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face issues with high intraluminal pressure and temperature changes during laser lithotripsy procedures, leading to potential harm and discomfort to patients, as they lack effective monitoring and control mechanisms for pressure and temperature within the body cavity.
Innovation Solution
A ureteroscope with a distal tip integrated with a temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and LED module, along with a Video Processing Unit (VPU) for real-time monitoring and control, eliminating the need for fiber optics and enhancing surgical safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser lithotripsy is performed in a water-containing environment to break stones, then stone fragmentation is achieved, but intraluminal pressure increases causing potential harm to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pressure sensor at the distal tip of the endoscope that provides real-time feedback on intraluminal pressure to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to monitor pressure levels continuously and adjust irrigation flow accordingly, preventing dangerous pressure buildup while maintaining effective stone fragmentation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts irrigation flow parameters based on real-time pressure monitoring. By changing the irrigation flow rate in response to pressure conditions, the system optimizes the balance between maintaining adequate fluid environment for laser lithotripsy and preventing harmful intraluminal pressure accumulation
2Temperature
If irrigation is increased to cool the body cavity during lithotripsy, then temperature control is improved, but intraluminal pressure rises causing fluid leakage and postoperative complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates both temperature sensors and pressure sensors that provide simultaneous feedback to the control system. This dual-parameter feedback enables the system to adjust irrigation flow to maintain safe temperature levels while preventing pressure from rising to dangerous levels, thereby avoiding fluid leakage and postoperative complications
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts irrigation parameters based on real-time temperature and pressure monitoring. By optimizing irrigation flow rate according to both temperature and pressure conditions, the system achieves effective cooling without causing harmful pressure elevation
3Illumination intensity
If LED module and camera are integrated in the distal tip, then real-time imaging and illumination are provided, but heat generation increases affecting component performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates temperature sensors that monitor the temperature at the distal tip where the LED module and camera are located. This temperature feedback enables the control system to adjust LED duty cycle or intensity to prevent overheating, ensuring stable component performance while maintaining adequate illumination for imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The system may employ periodic or pulsed LED operation instead of continuous illumination. By using intermittent lighting cycles, the system provides sufficient illumination for imaging while allowing thermal dissipation during off-periods, preventing temperature buildup that would degrade LED and camera performance
4Device complexity
If conventional endoscopes are used without pressure and temperature monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but surgical safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensing functions (pressure sensing and temperature sensing) into the distal tip of the endoscope, making the device capable of monitoring multiple critical parameters simultaneously. This multi-functional integration enables comprehensive safety monitoring without requiring separate dedicated devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback from both pressure sensors and temperature sensors located at the distal tip. This dual feedback mechanism provides continuous monitoring of critical surgical parameters, enabling the control system to detect and respond to potentially harmful conditions, thereby significantly improving surgical safety
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 ureteroscope provides real-time feedback on pressure and temperature, ensuring safer surgical conditions by preventing cellular damage and fluid leakage, thus improving patient comfort and procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor situated at the distal tip, calibrated to detect a temperature range from 25° C. to 50° C. to monitor cellular damage risk
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor located at the distal tip with a sensitivity range of 0 to 40 mmHg for regulating intrarenal pressure
Implementation Method 3
an LED module arrangement composed of four LEDs, each precisely situated at a 90-degree interval around the camera, having a combined output of 600 lumens to eliminate the requirement for a fibre optics cable
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a ureteroscope for ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy is disclosed. The ureteroscope comprises a handle, a disposable section made of a flexible cannula constructed of polyamide intertwined with 316L stainless steel wires with a specific diameter of 2.5 mm, a trapezoidal shaped camera, a distal tip and an LED module arrangement composed of four LEDs, each precisely situated at a 90-degree interval around the camera, and a temperature sensor situated at the distal tip, calibrated to detect a temperature range from 25° C. to 50° C., a pressure sensor located at the distal tip with a sensitivity range of 0 to 40 mmHg for regulating intrarenal pressure and a Video Processing Unit (VPU) with a processing speed of 2.5 GHz, configured to receive and process data from the sensors and the camera.