Endoscope Working Channel Unclogging With Flow-Based Pressure Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopes often experience clogging in their working channels during procedures, leading to reduced efficiency, increased procedure time, and potential harm to internal organs due to uncontrolled pressure changes, as conventional unclogging methods require scope retraction and high-pressure irrigation.

Innovation Solution

An unclogging system that uses a flow sensor to detect clogging and automatically adjusts irrigation and suction sources to maintain desired pressure levels, alternating between irrigation fluid and suction pressure to unclog channels efficiently and safely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional unclogging methods using high-pressure irrigation are used, then the working channel can be unclogged, but the pressure at the anatomical site becomes uncontrolled causing potential harm to internal organs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunclogging effectivenessVSAvoidpressure changes at anatomical site

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors flow rate through the working channel and uses this feedback to detect clogging conditions. Based on the detected channel state, the control module automatically adjusts irrigation and suction parameters to maintain safe pressure levels at the anatomical site while effectively unclogging the channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-regulation by automatically detecting clogging through flow rate monitoring and autonomously adjusting irrigation and suction parameters without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining pressure control while unclogging the channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the endoscope is retracted for unclogging, then the channel can be cleared, but procedure time increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel clearanceVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of clogging conditions through continuous flow rate monitoring and proactively applies controlled irrigation or suction to prevent complete blockage, avoiding the need for scope retraction and procedure interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The endoscope system autonomously detects and resolves clogging issues through automated flow rate monitoring and parameter adjustment, eliminating the need for manual scope retraction and maintaining continuous procedure flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If automated flow rate adjustment is implemented to maintain pressure control, then patient safety improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure control at anatomical siteVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control module receives real-time flow rate data from the flow sensor and automatically adjusts irrigation and suction parameters based on detected channel state, maintaining pressure control through a relatively simple feedback loop that monitors flow and modulates fluid delivery.

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

The system effectively unclogs endoscope channels in situ, maintaining anatomical site pressure control, reducing procedure time, and enhancing patient safety by preventing hazardous pressure changes.

Implementation Method 1

a flow sensor configured to sense a flow rate through a working channel of an endoscope

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow sensing:

Implementation Method 2

the control module can control one or more of an irrigation source or a suction source to provide respectively irrigation fluid or suction pressure to the working channel to unclog the working channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction pressure: Suction

Implementation Method 4

The control module can automatically adjust one or more of an irrigation flow rate or a suction flow rate through the working channel to maintain the pressure of an anatomical environment at the anatomical site at substantially a desired pressure level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure control:

Data Source

PatentUS20250331920A1Endoscope unclogging system and method

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

Systems and methods of in situ unclogging a working channel in a medical device during a procedure are disclosed. An exemplary unclogging system comprises a flow sensor to sense a flow rate through a working channel, and a control module to detect a channel state indicating a presence or absence of clogging based on the flow rate. In the presence of channel clogging, the control module can control one or more of an irrigation source or a suction source to provide respectively irrigation fluid or suction pressure to unclog the obstructed channel. The control module can adjust one or more of an irrigation flow rate or a suction flow rate through the working channel to maintain a desired pressure of the anatomical environment at the anatomical site, or to maintain a desired flow condition in the working channel, during the procedure.