Endoscopic Accessory Balloon Compartment Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopy procedures often cause discomfort and pain due to air insufflation in the gastrointestinal tract, and existing methods struggle to isolate specific areas for detailed examination without inflating the entire tract.
Innovation Solution
An accessory device creates an endoluminal compartment around the endoscope tip, which can be filled with air or water, using balloons to maintain position and seal the compartment, allowing for flexible examination without deflating and re-inflating, and includes features like a proximal balloon, inner balloon, and a tip material for secure sealing and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If air insufflation is performed to improve visualization during endoscopy, then visualization is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to bloating and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gastrointestinal tract into isolated compartments using inflatable balloons and a collapsible cuff. Only the specific compartment being examined receives insufflation, while the rest of the tract remains unaffected. This segmentation allows improved visualization in the target area without causing widespread patient discomfort from global bloating.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory device applies local quality by concentrating air insufflation within a specific sealed compartment rather than distributing it throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. The cuff and balloons create a localized environment where insufflation improves visualization only in the examined region, minimizing harmful effects elsewhere.
2Illumination intensity
If the entire gastrointestinal tract is inflated for examination, then visualization is improved, but the ability to examine specific areas deteriorates due to inability to isolate regions
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the gastrointestinal tract into multiple isolated compartments using inflatable balloons positioned at different locations. Each compartment can be independently inflated and examined, allowing the physician to focus on specific areas without the entire tract being inflated. This provides both visualization capability and area isolation capability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory device includes a collapsible cuff and inflatable balloons that can be dynamically adjusted. The cuff can be deflated to allow passage of instruments, then inflated to seal and isolate a specific compartment. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt between different examination scenarios, providing both overall visualization and focused area examination capabilities.
3Reliability
If balloons are used to seal the endoluminal compartment, then compartment sealing is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple balloons and sealing structures
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory device integrates multiple functions into a single unit. The collapsible cuff serves both as a positioning element and a sealing mechanism. The inflatable balloons provide both compartment isolation and assistance in maintaining the sealed environment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliable sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a nested configuration where the collapsible cuff is positioned within the endoscope, and inflatable balloons are placed within the compartment created by the cuff. The cuff can be deflated to allow passage of instruments through the endoscope, then inflated to seal the compartment. This nested arrangement allows multiple sealing functions to be integrated in a space-efficient manner, managing complexity through hierarchical organization.
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 comfortable and effective examination of specific gastrointestinal tract areas by maintaining a sealed compartment, allowing for independent movement of the endoscope and easy cleaning of the intestinal wall, reducing patient discomfort and improving visualization.
Implementation Method 1
balloons comprising at least a proximal balloon for maintaining the position of the endoscope accessory in an area to be examined and to seal the proximal end of the endoluminal compartment
Implementation Method 2
a fluid can be delivered into the intermediate space to adjust a flexibility of the wall structure
Implementation Method 3
the first seam structure can be releasably joined to the second seam structure to form a fluid tight seal therebetween such that the wall structure can form a closed overtube profile about the endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods of use for an endoscopic accessory device that can be assembled and advanced over an endoscope positioned at a site within the body, the endoscopic accessory device including a body structure having seam structures on opposite sides of an elongate body structure, where the seam structures can be releasably joined to transform the body structure from a planar configuration to a tubular configuration.