Tethered Capsule Fluid Wicking Lens Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current esophageal imaging devices face challenges in speed, patient comfort, optimal view capture, and compatibility with low-cost, single-use designs, particularly due to lack of mechanical control and adaptability for poor alignment or obstructed views.
Innovation Solution
An esophageal imaging system featuring a tethered imaging capsule with a tapered end, a camera lens, and fluid wicking elements that use hydrophilic or lubricious coatings to remove liquid from the camera lens and function as alignment aids, including radiating alignment extensions and absorbent materials to enhance positioning and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a capsule endoscopy device is used to avoid discomfort from a tether, then patient comfort is improved, but the ability to control device positioning and alignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a comfortable swallowable capsule portion and a separate external control system connected via tether. The capsule contains imaging sensors while the tether provides mechanical control capability, allowing the patient to swallow a small form factor device while maintaining external control for positioning and alignment adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary element connecting the capsule to the external environment. It transmits mechanical forces and torques from the external operator to the capsule, enabling indirect control of the capsule's position and orientation without requiring the capsule itself to contain complex actuation mechanisms.
2Productivity
If a single pass through the anatomy is used, then exam speed is improved, but the ability to capture optimal views is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities through the tether connection, allowing real-time adjustments of the capsule's position and orientation during the single pass through the esophagus. This enables the operator to adapt to anatomical variations and optimize viewing angles on the fly, maintaining image quality while preserving the efficiency of a single-pass examination.
3Device complexity
If no mechanical control is provided, then device simplicity is improved, but adaptability to poor alignment or obstructed view is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The tether serves as a mechanical intermediary that transmits control forces from the external operator to the capsule. This simple yet effective mechanism provides the necessary adaptability to correct misalignment and navigate obstructions without requiring complex onboard actuators or sensors within the capsule itself.
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 improves patient comfort and image capture by effectively removing liquid from the camera lens, providing alignment assistance, and ensuring easy passage and retrieval, while maintaining a low-cost, single-use design.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fluid wicking element, positioned on the imaging system proximate to the camera lens of the imaging capsule to enable the fluid wicking element to wick liquid away from the camera lens
Implementation Method 2
the fluid wicking element uses at least one of a wicking property of a material of the fluid wicking element or gravity to wick liquid away from the camera lens
Implementation Method 3
the fluid wicking element of the imaging system further functions as an alignment element for the imaging system... the fluid wicking element comprises at least one of a hydrophilic or lubricious coating
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes a tether, a tapered end portion coupling the tether to an imaging capsule, the imaging capsule comprising a camera lens, and at least one fluid wicking element, positioned on the imaging system proximate to the camera lens of the imaging capsule to enable the fluid wicking element to wick liquid away from the camera lens. In some embodiments, the fluid wicking element of the imaging system further functions as an alignment element for the imaging system to enable a positioning of the imaging system in an opening.