Basket Gallstone Removal Control Using Size and Resistance Feedback

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical systems face challenges in efficiently determining the removability of gallstones from the papillary orifice using basket treatment tools, as they lack accurate methods to assess the size and resistance of the gallstones during endoscopic procedures.

Innovation Solution

A medical system with a processor that determines the removability of gallstones based on transmissive images and resistance feedback, controlling the basket treatment tool to open/close and advance/retreat for effective removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the basket treatment tool is used to remove large gallstones from the papillary orifice, then the gallstone removal capability is improved, but excessive load is applied to the papillary orifice causing tissue damage and complicating the manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegallstone removal capabilityVSAvoidexcessive load on papillary orifice

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of gallstone size based on transmissive images and resistance measurements before attempting removal. This preliminary assessment allows the system to identify suitable candidates for removal and avoid attempting to remove stones that would cause excessive load, thereby preventing tissue damage while maintaining removal capability for appropriate stones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors resistance when the basket treatment tool is pulled and uses this feedback to determine whether the gallstone can be safely removed. The resistance information provides real-time feedback about the interaction between the tool and gallstone, enabling the system to adjust or abort removal attempts based on measured resistance thresholds, thus preventing excessive load application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the basket treatment tool attempts to remove gallstones without size and resistance verification, then the removal operation is simplified, but the risk of applying excessive load to the papillary orifice increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval operation simplicityVSAvoidrisk of excessive load application

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of gallstone size based on transmissive images and resistance measurements before attempting removal. This preliminary assessment allows the system to identify suitable candidates for removal and avoid attempting to remove stones that would cause excessive load, thereby preventing tissue damage while maintaining removal capability for appropriate stones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors resistance when the basket treatment tool is pulled and uses this feedback to determine whether the gallstone can be safely removed. The resistance information provides real-time feedback about the interaction between the tool and gallstone, enabling the system to adjust or abort removal attempts based on measured resistance thresholds, thus preventing excessive load application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables precise and efficient removal of gallstones by assessing size and resistance, improving the success rate of endoscopic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a second determination, based on a resistance when the basket treatment tool is pulled, of whether the resistance allows the basket treatment tool to remove the gallstone from the papillary orifice

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResistance measurement: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12622719B2Medical system, operation method for medical system, and information storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.05.12 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

The medical system includes a basket treatment tool a processor. The processor determines, one or more of: a first determination, based on a transmissive image including the biliary duct, of whether a size of a gallstone allows the basket treatment tool to remove the gallstone from the papillary orifice, or a second determination, based on a resistance when the basket treatment tool is pulled, of whether the resistance allows the basket treatment tool to remove the gallstone from the papillary orifice; and controls the basket treatment tool to remove the gallstone from the papillary orifice when one or more of the first determination or the second determination determines that the gallstone is removable from the papillary orifice.