Vibrating Endoscope Brush With Reciprocating Channel Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for efficient and effective procedures to thoroughly clean and sanitize endoscopic devices prior to reuse, as the reuse of these devices is in tension with the need for a sterile medical environment.

Innovation Solution

A brush for cleaning endoscopic medical devices is designed with a wire, brush heads, and a vibration device that includes gears driven by motors and controlled by a controller to move in a pattern of forward and backward movements, optionally with bristles tilted in different directions, and may include a disposable cartridge to minimize contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If endoscopic devices are reused to reduce costs, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the risk of contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The brush incorporates a vibration device that generates mechanical vibrations to enhance the cleaning action against the endoscopic channel walls, effectively removing contaminants during reuse cycles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The brush employs dynamic forward and backward movements through gear-driven mechanisms, allowing the brush to oscillate and cover larger surface areas of the endoscopic channel more effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If traditional manual cleaning is used, then device complexity is low, but cleaning effectiveness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning device structureVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration device generates mechanical vibrations that enhance the cleaning action against the endoscopic channel walls, effectively removing contaminants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The brush employs dynamic forward and backward movements through gear-driven mechanisms, allowing the brush to oscillate and cover larger surface areas more effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If brush moves only forward, then device complexity is low, but cleaning coverage is incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement mechanismVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The brush employs dynamic forward and backward movements through gear-driven mechanisms, allowing the brush to oscillate and cover larger surface areas of the endoscopic channel more effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The brush performs periodic forward and backward movements in a controlled pattern, systematically covering different sections of the endoscopic channel to ensure complete cleaning coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 brush effectively cleans endoscopic channels by moving in a controlled pattern, enhancing sanitation efficiency and reducing the risk of contamination during reuse.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration device. The vibration device has a plurality of gears configured to receive the wire; one or more motors configured to drive the plurality of gears

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS20250380862A1Vibrating brush for endoscope reprocessing

Publication Date: 2025.12.18 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

Devices, systems, and methods for cleaning endoscopic channels. A brush may have multiple brush heads along a wire and a vibration device. The vibration device may have motor-controlled gears to hold the wire and move the wire and brush heads with both forward and backward movements to clean the channel.