Endoluminal Anastomosis Apparatus with Pulling Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive endoluminal techniques face challenges in effectively forming anastomoses, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, due to limitations in navigating and manipulating tissue within long and folded structures like the small intestine, where natural curvature impedes ease of navigation and access to distant tissue sections.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an anchor assembly and a pulling assembly, comprising extendable and retractable elongate members with inflatable balloons, allows for lengthwise contraction of body duct tissue, bringing distant sections closer to the anchor, and a lateral movement device facilitates wall-to-wall engagement of tissue sections, enabling effective manipulation and creation of anastomosis sites deep within the anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If endoluminal techniques are used for anastomosis creation, then invasiveness is reduced, but the ability to access and manipulate distant tissue sections is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is divided into multiple functional segments including a proximal anchor assembly, multiple pulling assemblies with elongate members and balloons, and a distal anastomosis creation device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the system to reach and manipulate distant tissue sections while maintaining minimal invasiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling assemblies with elongate members and inflatable balloons act as intermediaries between the proximal anchor assembly and the distal tissue sections. These intermediaries transmit pulling forces through the body duct lumen to bring distant tissue sections closer to the anchor, overcoming the limitation of direct access while maintaining endoluminal approach
2Ease of operation
If natural curvature paths are followed in the body duct, then navigation is simplified, but access to distant and folded tissue sections is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus incorporates dynamic elements including extendable and retractable elongate members, inflatable and deflatable balloons, and steerable/distensible portions that can adapt to the natural curvature and folding of the body duct. These dynamic features allow the apparatus to navigate through tortuous paths while maintaining the ability to access distant tissue sections by adjusting its configuration to match the duct's geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus utilizes the third dimension by deploying balloons radially outward to frictionally engage the duct wall, and by using steerable portions to change the direction of elongate members. This dimensional approach allows navigation through curved and folded tissue while maintaining control over distant tissue sections
3Ease of operation
If multiple elongate members with balloons are used for tissue contraction, then distant tissue can be brought closer, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus employs a nested configuration where multiple elongate members with balloons are contained within a delivery catheter system. The elongate members can be independently extended and retracted, and the balloons can be selectively inflated and deflated. This nesting allows multiple functional components to be delivered through a single access point while maintaining the ability to perform complex tissue manipulation tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The pulling assemblies with elongate members and balloons serve multiple functions: they can frictionally engage the duct wall for navigation, pull distant tissue sections toward the anchor, and maintain tissue retraction during anastomosis creation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby managing complexity while enhancing tissue manipulation capability
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 approach enhances the versatility and efficacy of minimally invasive anastomosis creation by allowing deeper access and manipulation of tissues, even in tortuous ducts like the small intestine, thereby expanding the applicability of endoluminal procedures.
Implementation Method 1
at least one distal balloon inflatable for frictionally engaging an interior surface of the body duct to enable the frictionally engaged tissue to be pulled towards the anchor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus (10) insertable endoluminally into a body duct, for example the gastro-intestinal tract, and operable to manipulate body duct tissue to create a target site for an anastomosis by bringing sections of the body duct tissue into close relation with each other, the apparatus comprising:an anchor assembly (12) including an anchor for anchoring at a selected position within the body duct;at least a first pulling assembly (14a, 14b) configured for contracting a portion of the body duct in a lengthwise direction from within the body duct, by pulling distant tissue towards the anchor assembly;a lateral movement device (22, 24) configured for moving first and second sections of the body duct tissue that are spaced lengthwise along the body duct, laterally into wall-to-wall engagement with each other; anda deployment device for deploying one or more tools and/or devices for creating an anastomosis.