Balloon-Equipped Endoscope Dynamic Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current balloon endoscopes face limitations in providing consistent axial stretching and visual inspection of body passageways, particularly in areas with varying cross-sectional areas, and require frequent balloon replacement due to limited reprocessing cycles.
Innovation Solution
A balloon-equipped endoscope system with a balloon inflation subsystem that allows selective inflation to different pressures for slidable frictional engagement and anchoring, featuring a gas reservoir for pressure buffering and a durable balloon material (polyurethane type Elastollan 1185A) for multiple uses, enabling systematic axial stretching and enhanced visual inspection without the need for frequent balloon replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balloon is inflated to high pressure for anchoring, then the balloon can be securely positioned, but the balloon material degrades faster requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts balloon inflation pressure based on operational phase: high pressure (60-80 millibar) for anchoring/stabilization, low pressure (3-35 millibar) for stretching/inspection. This dynamic pressure modulation allows the balloon to fulfill multiple functions at different pressure levels, extending service life while maintaining anchoring capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter throughout the procedure rather than maintaining constant high pressure. The inflation subsystem enables selective inflation to different pressure states, transitioning from high pressure for secure positioning to low pressure for prolonged stretching and inspection, thereby resolving the contradiction between anchoring stability and service life.
2Measurement precision
If the balloon is inflated to stretch the body passageway for better visualization, then inspection quality improves, but the balloon may slip or become dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions between pressure states: high pressure for anchoring to prevent slippage, then low pressure for stretching and inspection. This dynamic adjustment ensures the balloon remains securely positioned while still achieving adequate stretching for high-quality visual inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon undergoes periodic inflation cycles: inflate to high pressure for anchoring, deflate to low pressure for inspection, then re-inflate for repositioning if needed. This periodic action allows the balloon to maintain positional stability while achieving inspection quality when required.
3Area of stationary object
If the balloon is made larger to cover more area, then inspection coverage increases, but the balloon requires higher inflation pressure which accelerates material degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter based on balloon function: low pressure (3-35 millibar) suffices for stretching and inspection coverage, while high pressure (60-80 millibar) is reserved only for anchoring. This parameter modulation allows adequate inspection coverage without continuously subjecting the balloon to degrading high pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pressure based on operational needs rather than maintaining constant high pressure for large-area coverage. The balloon is inflated to low pressure for inspection coverage, and only temporarily to high pressure when anchoring is required, thereby extending service life while maintaining adequate coverage.
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 system provides consistent axial stretching and improved visual inspection capabilities across varying body passageway diameters, extending the lifespan of the balloon and reducing the need for replacement, while maintaining effective inflation pressures for enhanced pathology detection.
Implementation Method 1
a balloon which is configured for slidable frictional engagement with an interior wall of a body passageway
Implementation Method 2
a durable balloon material (polyurethane type Elastollan 1185A) for multiple uses
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopy system including a balloon-equipped endoscope including a balloon which is configured for slidable frictional engagement with an interior wall of a body passageway and axial stretching of the interior wall when inflated to a slidable frictional engagement pressure and displaced axially along the body passageway and a balloon inflation subsystem operative to selectably inflate the balloon to the slidable frictional engagement pressure.