Extendable Endoscopic Closure Cap for Wider Tissue Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic closure devices, such as over the scope clips (OTSC) and ligation bands, obstruct the field of view of the endoscopic vision system, making it difficult to confirm proper tissue capture before deployment, often requiring relocation or removal of improperly deployed clips or bands.
Innovation Solution
An expandable and/or extendable cap for endoscopic devices that enhances visualization by increasing the field of view through a flexible, reflective design and distal translation, allowing clear visualization of surrounding tissue and ensuring proper tissue capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size closure device is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to defects of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into a body portion and one or more extendable wings that can be deployed independently. The wings are initially contained within the body and can be extended outward to match the dimensions of the defect, allowing the same cap structure to adapt to various defect sizes without requiring multiple different cap designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap transitions from a static fixed-size structure to a dynamic structure with movable wings. The wings can be extended or retracted based on the defect size, allowing the cap to dynamically adjust its dimensions. This dynamic capability enables a single cap design to handle multiple defect sizes, improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cap size is increased to accommodate larger defects, then larger defects can be closed, but the delivery catheter must be larger
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable wings are nested within the cap body during delivery, and the entire cap assembly is delivered through the catheter in a compact configuration. Only after reaching the defect site are the wings extended to their full size. This nesting principle allows the cap to achieve a large final size while maintaining a small delivery profile, enabling treatment of larger defects without requiring proportionally larger catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap structure dynamically changes from a compact delivered state to an expanded treatment state. The wings remain retracted during delivery through the catheter, allowing use of smaller catheters. Once positioned at the defect, the wings are extended to accommodate larger defects. This dynamic transformation decouples the delivery size from the treatment size, expanding the range of treatable defects without requiring larger delivery systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an extendable cap design is used, then adaptability to defect sizes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is segmented into modular components (body and wings) that can independently extend. This segmentation allows the complexity to be distributed and managed in discrete parts rather than requiring a completely complex redesign of the entire cap structure. The modular nature also facilitates manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The extendable wing mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides adaptability to different defect sizes, maintains structural integrity during extension, and can be integrated with various closure device types. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single design feature.
Data Source
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AI summary
An assembly for a closure device includes a cap with a distal portion having a recess to receive tissue and a proximal portion fitting over a face of an endoscope. The proximal portion includes fold(s) between a first region and a first end of a second region. The cap expands from a collapsed state in which an angle of the first region relative to a longitudinal axis of the endoscope is at a minimum to an expanded state in which the angle is increased. Based on the angle and reflectivity of the first region, an endoscopic camera on the face is provided an increased field of view in the expanded state relative to the collapsed state. The device captures tissue when the cap is in the expanded state via an actuation mechanism extending through a channel of the endoscope into the distal portion.