Endoscope Endcap with Support Rib for Tissue Suturing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Transluminal procedures face challenges in providing a suitable conduit for endoscopic suturing, maintaining sterility, insufflation, proper closure of openings in internal organs, and preventing infection, particularly due to spillage of bodily fluids and bacterial contamination.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with an endcap for an endoscope that includes a tubular shape with a side port and support rib for secure tissue anchoring, allowing for controlled suture placement and closure of perforations using a needle assembly with a tissue anchor and suture, facilitating purse-string fashion closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional open surgery or laparoscopic surgery is used to close tissue perforations, then reliable closure can be achieved, but invasive abdominal incisions and incision related complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoidincision complications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The endcap device serves as an intermediary tool that bridges the endoscope and tissue closure function. It provides a specialized interface with tissue engagement features (support rib, piercing aperture, side port) that enables suture placement through the gastrointestinal tract wall without external incisions, thereby achieving reliable closure while avoiding incision-related complications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If transluminal procedures are used to access body cavities, then invasive incisions are eliminated, but proper closure of openings and prevention of infection become challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimally invasive accessVSAvoidopening closure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The endcap device is pre-positioned on the endoscope before tissue engagement. The support rib and piercing aperture are pre-configured to guide the needle and suture through the tissue, ensuring proper closure is achieved as part of the initial transluminal access procedure rather than requiring separate closure steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If endoscopic suturing devices are used to close perforations, then minimally invasive closure is achieved, but complex device structures and difficult tissue manipulation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimally invasive closureVSAvoidendcap structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The endcap device is segmented into distinct functional components: the tubular body for endoscope attachment, the support rib for tissue engagement, the piercing aperture for needle passage, and the side port for suture exit. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall device manageable and relatively simple in structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2348950B1Endoscope endcap for suturing tissue
Publication Date: 2015.03.18 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP2348950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2348950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2348950B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Medical systems, devices and methods are disclosed for suturing a perforation in tissue, that may be employed endoscopically and/or laparoscopically, and that offer simple, reliable and controllable placement of suture around a perforation for complete closure thereof. One embodiment of the medical device generally includes an endcap for use with an endoscope to suture an opening in tissue using a tissue anchor. The endcap has a tubular shape defined by an annular sidewall, and the sidewall defines an interior space. A side port is further defined by the annular sidewall and is in communication with the interior space. The side port is sized to receive and locate the tissue within the interior space for suturing. A support rib is positioned within the interior space and distal to the side port. The support rib and sidewall define a piercing aperture therebetween that supports the tissue being sutured.