Endoscopic Tool Asymmetric Pivot for Tissue Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic treatment tools face difficulties in accurately positioning the grasping portion due to irregularities around tissues like polyps, leading to simultaneous contact of distal ends and hindered rotation, making it challenging to locate and treat the target tissue effectively.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic treatment tool with a grasping portion featuring a first and second shoulder portion forming a predetermined angle, a pivot portion with an insulating cap, and a sliding mechanism that allows precise control and insulation, enabling the tool to be rotated about the pivot to accurately position the bifurcated ends and prevent adjacent tissue damage during high-frequency treatment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the bifurcated distal ends are configured to have the same lengths, then the target tissue can be completely removed by high-frequency treatment, but it becomes difficult or impossible to rotate the grasping portion when one distal end makes simultaneous contact with adjacent tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete removal of target tissueVSAvoidrotation of grasping portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces asymmetry by providing a pivot portion that protrudes in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the first shoulder portion. This creates an asymmetric structure where the first shoulder portion has an extended pivot portion while the second shoulder portion does not, allowing the grasping portion to rotate about the pivot portion without the distal ends making simultaneous contact with adjacent tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If operators manually locate the grasping portion by moving one distal end to press against adjacent tissue, then the grasping portion can be positioned, but simultaneous contact of both distal ends with adjacent tissue prevents rotation and complicates positioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual positioning of grasping portionVSAvoidpositioning difficulty due to simultaneous contact
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot portion acts as an intermediary element that facilitates rotation. By providing this protruding pivot portion on the first shoulder portion, the invention creates a designated rotation axis that mediates the positioning operation, allowing the grasping portion to rotate smoothly about the pivot without the distal ends simultaneously contacting adjacent tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the grasping portion is rotated about a pivot portion, then precise positioning is achieved, but frictional forces during sliding movement increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of target tissueVSAvoidfrictional force during sliding
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the rotation function from the distal ends and concentrates it at the pivot portion. By taking out the rotation capability and locating it at the proximal end on the first shoulder portion, the distal ends are freed from simultaneous contact constraints, reducing frictional forces during sliding movement while maintaining precise positioning capability through rotation about the pivot.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2022430B1Endoscopic treatment tool
Publication Date: 2011.04.13 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP
  • EP2022430B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2022430B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2022430B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

An endoscopic treatment tool is provided which includes: a grasping portion that has a first shoulder portion and second shoulder portion; a current-carrying portion that protrudes out from a distal end of each of the first and second shoulder portions; a pivot portion that is disposed in the distal end of the first shoulder portion so as to protrude in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the first shoulder portion, the distal end of the pivot portion being provided with an insulating portion; a wire that is connected to the grasping portion; a sheath which has a tubular shape, and into which the wire and grasping portion are inserted; a main body to which the sheath is fixed; and a sliding portion which is disposed to move in the longitudinal direction of the main body in a sliding manner, and to which the wire is connected.