Endoscopic Diverticulum Inversion and Sealing for Diverticulitis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for diverticulitis, including medication and surgery, lack minimally invasive interventions to effectively treat and prevent the condition, particularly in cases of uncomplicated diverticulitis, and there is a need for nonsurgical solutions to address recurrent symptoms.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive endoscopic device is used to invert, collapse, and seal diverticula using a needle with expandable arms and a bioadhesive, allowing the diverticulum to necrose and heal, potentially eliminating the need for surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatments (medication and surgery) are used for diverticulitis, then the infection and inflammation can be addressed, but minimally invasive interventions are lacking and surgical options carry higher risk and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of treatmentVSAvoidinvasiveness of procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces surgical mechanical intervention with an endoscopic device that uses controlled inversion and necrosis induction. Instead of surgical resection requiring large incisions and general anesthesia, the device delivers a necrotic agent through the endoscope to induce controlled tissue death and closure of the diverticulum, thereby reducing mechanical invasiveness while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a necrotic agent as an intermediary substance delivered through the endoscopic device. This agent acts as a mediator between the endoscope and the diverticulum tissue, inducing controlled necrosis and subsequent closure without requiring direct surgical manipulation of the tissue, thus enabling minimally invasive treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgery is performed to remove affected colon segments, then recurrent diverticulitis can be prevented, but the procedure becomes more complex and carries higher risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of recurrenceVSAvoidsurgical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts or removes the problematic diverticulum tissue through controlled necrosis and inversion rather than surgical resection. The necrotic agent destroys the diverticulum wall tissue in a controlled manner, causing it to collapse and close, effectively removing the source of recurrent infection without requiring complex surgical procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inversion of the diverticulum as a core mechanism. By flipping the diverticulum inside out through the endoscopic device, the mucosal surface is exposed to the necrotic agent and the diverticulum collapses onto itself, facilitating closure and preventing recurrence through a mechanism opposite to traditional surgical resection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If percutaneous catheter drainage is used for abscesses, then infection can be drained, but the procedure requires needle insertion through the skin and may not prevent recurrence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection controlVSAvoidprocedure time and recovery

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by treating the diverticulum before abscess formation or recurrence can occur. The endoscopic device delivers the necrotic agent to the diverticulum wall, inducing controlled necrosis and closure that prevents future infection and abscess formation, rather than merely draining existing infections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful diverticulum tissue into a beneficial closed structure through controlled necrosis. The necrotic agent transforms the problematic diverticulum wall into necrotic tissue that collapses and seals the diverticulum opening, converting the source of infection into a sealed, harmless structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS12569361B2Devices and methods to treat and prevent diverticulitis

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

A method of treating diverticulitis and the diverticulum by reducing the bioactivity of the diverticulum such that the diverticulum necroses. The devices and methods include placing an endoscopic device within a colonic lumen relative to at least one diverticulum and inverting the diverticulum. Once inverted, the diverticulum is collapsed and sealed. Overtime, the inverted diverticulum will necrose and be absorbed by the body or slough off and be expelled.