Endoscope Cap with Reinforced Wall for Foreign Body Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope accessories, such as overtubes and protection hoods, are inadequate for safely removing cutting or perforating foreign bodies from the human or animal body, as they can cause further tissue damage and are not suitable for all age groups or anatomical locations.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope cap with a protective envelope that flares out from its proximal to distal opening, made of a structure resistant to puncture or incision, which can be fixed to the endoscope and features a reinforcement for enhanced strength and flexibility, allowing for clear vision and safe envelopment of foreign bodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a soft plastic protection hood is used to cover the foreign body, then the foreign body can be contained, but the material is not resistant to perforation or laceration and may fold reducing field of vision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to puncture and incisionVSAvoidfield of vision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cap combines a soft plastic envelope with a reinforcement structure made of flexible material (such as a mesh or grid) integrated into the wall structure. This composite construction provides both puncture resistance and maintains flexibility to prevent folding, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If an overtube is used to tunnel the esophagus, then the risk of esophageal injury is limited, but the diameter makes it unusable in young children

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of esophageal tissueVSAvoidapplicability to different age groups

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can adapt to different esophageal diameters. The reinforcement structure provides strength while the overall flexible design allows it to be used in both children and adults, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If a folding cap structure is used to attach to the endoscope, then it can be fixed in place, but the folding greatly reduces the field of vision and may camouflage the foreign body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidfield of vision

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated reinforcement structure prevents the cap walls from folding excessively, maintaining a stable, transparent view of the foreign body while preserving the attachment functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and loss of information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3448226B1Endoscopic cap with reinforced wall

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE HOPITAUX DE PARIS (APHP)

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Figure 7(a)~7(e)

AI summary

The present invention relates to an endoscope cap (1) comprising: - a sheath (2) with a proximal opening and a distal opening (4) facing the proximal opening and having a shape flaring towards its distal opening, - an attachment means (3) suitable for attaching the cap to the distal end of an endoscope, with said proximal opening facing or surrounding the distal end of the endoscope, the wall of said sheath being made of a structure having sufficient strength to withstand perforation and/or incision by a sharp and/or pointed object. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing this cap, as well as its use in a process for extracting a foreign body.