Endoscope Lumen Accessory Deployable Tip Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic medical devices face limitations in accessibility and maneuverability due to medical tools extending from the distal end of the endoscope, which restricts access and manipulation perpendicular to the endoscope face, making procedures like cutting and tissue removal difficult.
Innovation Solution
An accessory device for endoscopes featuring a cap with deployable and collapsible tips and an expandable guide member, allowing the tips to change orientation and position relative to the endoscope shaft, enhancing access and maneuverability by enabling tools to extend from the endoscope at offset angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If medical tools extend from the distal end of the endoscope, then the endoscope structure is simple, but the accessibility and maneuverability of tools perpendicular to the distal end face is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory device is divided into distinct functional segments: a cap that attaches to the endoscope shaft, deployable tips that can be extended or retracted, and an expandable guide member with multiple arms. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while collectively solving the maneuverability problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory device incorporates dynamic elements including deployable tips that can extend perpendicular to the endoscope face and an expandable guide member that can transition between collapsed and expanded states. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt its configuration based on procedural needs, improving accessibility without permanently increasing complexity.
2Ease of operation
If tips are deployed perpendicular to the endoscope face, then access to target sites is improved, but the device complexity increases due to deployable mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory device employs a nested configuration where the deployable tips are housed within the cap structure, and the guide member arms are collapsible to fit within the cap's volume. When not in use, all components are contained within the compact cap assembly, minimizing the increased complexity while maintaining the capability for perpendicular access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary structure that connects the cap to the deployable tips, providing a mechanical framework that enables perpendicular deployment while maintaining overall structural integrity. This intermediary component simplifies the deployment mechanism by serving as a stable base for the tips while allowing controlled movement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable guide member is used, then maneuverability in multiple directions is enhanced, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable guide member serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the deployable tips, enables directional control perpendicular to the endoscope face, and can be collapsed to a compact configuration for navigation through the endoscope. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory device for an endoscope includes a cap attached to a shaft of the endoscope, the cap extending along a first axis, a first tip coupled to the cap and movable relative to the cap between a deployed configuration and a non-deployed configuration, and a first shaft defining a lumen and extending proximally from the first tip. In the deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a second axis that is offset from the first axis, and in the non-deployed configuration, the first tip extends along a third axis that is offset from the first axis.