Endoscope Cover With Angled Projecting Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current colonoscopic and enteroscopic procedures are inconvenient, uncomfortable, and associated with significant risks and complications, including looping issues that hinder visualization and tip position control.
Innovation Solution
A medical scoping device cover with an elongate tubular member and spaced projecting elements that fan out to support and dilate the lumen wall, allowing for improved navigation and visualization by reducing looping and maintaining tip position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional flexible endoscope is advanced through the colon, then the procedure can be performed with a simple device structure, but looping occurs that hinders visualization and tip position control
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with projecting elements that can dynamically change their configuration between a collapsed state during insertion and an expanded state during withdrawal. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt to different operational phases, reducing looping during withdrawal while maintaining simple insertion, thereby resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and operational ease.
2Productivity
If the endoscope is withdrawn through the colon, then the examination can be completed, but the tip position is lost due to jerks and slippages
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is pre-configured with projecting elements that are collapsed during insertion and then automatically expand upon withdrawal. This preliminary preparation of the cover structure enables it to preemptively counteract the jerks and slippages that occur during withdrawal, maintaining tip position control without requiring real-time adjustments, thus resolving the contradiction between procedure completion and measurement precision.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the colon folds are present during intubation, then the natural anatomy is preserved, but visualization of the mucosa surface is hampered
Solution Approach 1:
The cover dynamically transforms from a collapsed state during intubation (preserving natural colon anatomy) to an expanded state during withdrawal (flattening folds for visualization). The projecting elements expand to gently flatten the colon folds against the cover surface, allowing the mucosa to be everted and visualized while the colon's natural structure remains undamaged, resolving the contradiction between anatomical stability and detection difficulty.
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 enhances the speed and comfort of medical scoping procedures by reducing looping, improving visualization, and maintaining tip position, thereby minimizing complications and patient discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
the outer surface comprising a plurality of spaced projecting elements... that are moveable between a resting position to a position wherein the tip of the projecting element is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the medical scoping device and to a position that is at an angle that is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the medical scoping device shaft so that the said projecting elements are fanned out to contact with and provide support for and to dilate a lumen wall
Implementation Method 2
the tubular member comprising an inner surface at least a part of which grips the shaft and acts to hold the cover in place
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cover having a plurality of moveable, external, angled projecting elements for use with flexible medical scoping devices such as endoscopes or enteroscopes. The invention includes the cover with an over cuff and use of the disposable removable covering in methods of medical scoping procedures or examinations. The invention also includes an applicator for assisting in placing the covering about or over a medical device and a kit of parts.