Endoscope Tool Needle and Electrode Fluid Gap

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current endoscope treatment tools face challenges in performing local injection and tissue incision simultaneously without the need for tool changes, and they often have a short needle lifespan due to buckling issues when equipped with injection holes.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope treatment tool with a sheath, electrode, and needle configuration that allows for simultaneous local injection and tissue incision, where the needle is designed to advance and retreat within the electrode, maintaining structural integrity and extending tool lifespan by avoiding injection holes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If injection holes are added to the needle for local injection treatment, then local injection capability is improved, but needle structural integrity deteriorates causing buckling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal injection capabilityVSAvoidneedle structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment tool is divided into separate functional components: a solid needle for incision and a separate fluid injection system through the electrode. This segmentation allows the needle to maintain full structural integrity without injection holes while still enabling local injection treatment through the electrode's fluid passage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode serves as an intermediary structure that provides fluid injection capability without requiring the needle to have injection holes. The fluid injection system uses the electrode's second hole as a separate injection path, allowing the needle to remain solid and structurally sound.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the needle is made solid without injection holes to prevent buckling, then needle strength is improved, but local injection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle structural integrityVSAvoidlocal injection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode is designed with multi-functionality: it serves both as an electrical conductor for high-frequency current delivery and as a fluid injection channel through its second hole. This allows the solid needle to maintain structural integrity while the electrode provides the local injection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode acts as an intermediary that enables fluid injection without requiring the needle to have injection holes. The fluid injection system uses the electrode's second hole as a separate injection path, allowing the needle to remain solid and structurally sound.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If separate tools are used for incision and local injection, then each tool's performance is optimized, but treatment efficiency deteriorates due to tool changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool performanceVSAvoidtreatment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment tool merges the incision function (solid needle) and local injection function (electrode with fluid passage) into a single integrated device. This allows the practitioner to perform both incision and local injection without changing tools, improving treatment efficiency while maintaining the performance advantages of each separate function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables efficient and convenient local injection and tissue incision without tool changes, while the solid needle design prevents buckling and extends the tool's lifespan by maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

A gap between the electrode and the needle is configured to pass a fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through gap:

Data Source

PatentUS20230137591A1Endoscope treatment tool, and treatment method

Publication Date: 2023.05.04 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

An endoscope treatment tool includes a sheath, an electrode and a needle. The sheath includes a first hole opened at a distal end of the sheath. The electrode is inserted into the first hole and includes a second hole opened at a distal end of the electrode. The needle is inserted into the second hole. The needle is movable to protrude from a distal end of the second hole of the electrode. A gap between the electrode and the needle is configured to pass a fluid.