Endoscope Stylet Helical Manipulation Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic treatment tools require complex mechanisms for manipulating tubular members, leading to increased size and user burden, making delicate tissue-fastening tool manipulations difficult due to the need for advanced mechanisms like advancing, retracting, and rotating components, which complicates precise implant indwelling procedures.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic treatment tool featuring a sheath with a stylet that protrudes and retracts, connected to a main and auxiliary manipulation part via a flexible manipulation transmission member, allowing for helical motion transmission and reducing the size of the main manipulation part by separating the main and auxiliary parts for independent control, enabling precise tissue-fastening tool deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If complex mechanisms are used to manipulate tubular members (advancing, retracting, rotating), then the manipulation capability is improved, but the device size increases and user burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation capabilityVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a tubular member and a separate stylet component. The stylet can be independently inserted into and removed from the tubular member, allowing manipulation functions to be separated. This segmentation enables simpler individual components while maintaining comprehensive manipulation capability when used together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stylet is designed to be inserted into the lumen of the tubular member, creating a nested configuration. The stylet fits within the tubular member's internal space, allowing both components to occupy minimal space when combined while still providing independent manipulation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If complex mechanisms are used to manipulate tubular members, then the manipulation capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation capabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the manipulation functions into distinct components (tubular member for one function, stylet for another), each component can have a simpler, more focused design. This avoids the need for complex integrated mechanisms that would be required to provide multiple manipulation functions in a single component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stylet and tubular member are designed to work together through their inherent geometric and mechanical properties rather than requiring complex active mechanisms. The stylet's shape and the tubular member's lumen configuration enable self-guided manipulation, reducing the need for additional complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If large-sized apparatus is used, then manipulation range is secured, but delicate manipulation becomes difficult and user burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation rangeVSAvoiddelicate manipulation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The nested configuration of the stylet within the tubular member allows the device to maintain a compact overall size while providing multiple manipulation functions. This compact form factor enables delicate manipulation in confined spaces without requiring a large apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented design with separate stylet and tubular member components allows each component to be optimized for specific manipulation tasks. The stylet can be precisely controlled for delicate operations, while the tubular member provides structural support and guidance, achieving both manipulation range and precision in a compact form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration allows for precise and efficient manipulation of the tissue-fastening tool, reducing user burden and improving handling properties by enabling accurate helical motion transmission, thus facilitating safer and more effective tissue treatment.

Implementation Method 1

a manipulation transmission member which is made of a flexible member, the manipulation transmission member connecting the auxiliary manipulation part to the main manipulation part, and the manipulation transmission member transmitting a manipulation input by the auxiliary manipulation part with respect to the main manipulation part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlexible deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3351188B1Endoscope treatment instrument
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP3351188B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3351188B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3351188B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An endoscopic treatment tool of the present invention includes: a sheath (3); a stylet (5); a main manipulation part (6) which is connected to a proximal end side of the sheath (3) and the main manipulation part operates the stylet (5); an auxiliary manipulation part (7) which is disposed to be separate from the main manipulation part (6) and the auxiliary manipulation part allows the stylet (5) to perform a helical motion; and a manipulation transmission member (8) which is made of a flexible member, the manipulation transmission member connecting the auxiliary manipulation part (7) to the main manipulation part (6), and the manipulation transmission member transmitting a manipulation input by the auxiliary manipulation part (7) with respect to the main manipulation part (6). The main manipulation part (6) includes a first helical mechanism which outputs a helical motion to the stylet (5), the auxiliary manipulation part (7) includes a second helical mechanism which outputs a helical motion to the stylet (5), and the helical motion output from the second helical mechanism is transmitted to the first helical mechanism via the manipulation transmission member in a state in which the main manipulation part (6) and the auxiliary manipulation part (7) are connected to each other.