Capsule Endoscope Wind-Up Unit for Pharyngeal Injury Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capsule endoscopes with attached strings cause discomfort due to friction in the pharyngeal region and may become stuck in wide spaces within the body, such as the stomach, preventing optimal image capture.
Innovation Solution
A capsule endoscope equipped with a wind-up unit that manages the string, allowing it to be brought out and wound up in conjunction with a rotating magnet, eliminating the need for external string movement and enabling navigation within the body without causing discomfort or getting stuck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a string is attached to the capsule endoscope and arranged outside the body, then the capsule endoscope can be manipulated from outside to control its position, but the string rubs against the pharyngeal region causing discomfort and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful function of the string (rubbing against pharyngeal region) is separated from the useful function (controlling capsule position). The string is extracted from the body cavity and its control function is transferred to a wind-up unit located inside the capsule, eliminating pharyngeal injury while maintaining positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The wind-up unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the external operator and the capsule endoscope. Instead of directly pulling the string through the pharynx, the operator controls the wind-up unit which then winds or unwinds the string internally, using the string as a mechanical intermediary for position control without external friction
2Adaptability or versatility
If the capsule endoscope is rotated by an external rotating magnetic field to move freely inside the subject, then the capsule can navigate wide spaces, but it may become unable to move off from a specific wall in organs with wide spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic rotation function and string winding function are merged into a single integrated system. The wind-up unit is connected to the magnet, so that magnetic field actuation simultaneously rotates the capsule for navigation and winds the string for position control, combining the advantages of both mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between rotation mode (for navigating wide spaces) and winding mode (for precise positioning). The wind-up unit can wind or unwind the string based on operational needs, allowing the capsule to move off walls when necessary while maintaining the ability to navigate wide spaces freely
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 solution allows for the capsule endoscope to move within the body without disturbing the pharyngeal region and ensures desirable image capture from wide spaces, such as the stomach, by using a wind-up unit integrated within the capsule endoscope to manage the string, preventing discomfort and ensuring effective navigation.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet that is connected to the wind-up unit and rotates according to an external rotating magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
a magnet that is connected to the wind-up unit and rotates according to an external rotating magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule endoscope includes a string that has one end attached to a main body of the capsule endoscope and another end secured at a predetermined position, and a wind-up unit that is provided in the main body of the capsule endoscope to bring out and wind up the string.