Endoscopic Fluid Aspiration Device with Protective Sheath

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current endoscopic aspiration tools face challenges in collecting sufficient luminal fluid from the small intestine due to limited fluid availability and contamination from the oral, esophageal, and gastric microflora, leading to potential misdiagnosis of Small Intestinal Bacterial or Fungal Overgrowth.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic device with an outer sheath and a suction tube, featuring a cap that opens with applied force, a guidewire for deploying a balloon or elliptical basket, and capillary tubes to prevent contamination and enhance fluid collection, allowing for sterile aspiration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sterile catheter is advanced through the endoscope to collect fluid, then the fluid can be collected, but the catheter becomes contaminated by oral, esophageal, and gastric microflora during advancement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterility of fluid sampleVSAvoidcontamination by microflora

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is nested within a protective sheath that extends from the distal end of the endoscope to the proximal end. The sheath acts as a barrier preventing microflora contamination while the catheter advances through the gastrointestinal tract. The catheter can be advanced through the sheath to the target site while remaining protected, and the sheath can be repositioned or exchanged to maintain sterility throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective sheath serves as an intermediary barrier between the sterile catheter and the contaminated environment of the gastrointestinal tract. The sheath allows the catheter to reach the target site while preventing direct contact with microflora, and provides a interface for fluid transfer without contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If suction is applied to collect intestinal fluid, then fluid can be collected, but the collection amount is limited to approximately 2 ml due to fluid availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of fluid collectedVSAvoidsufficiency of sample for analysis

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous fluid collection by maintaining the catheter in position at the target site and applying sustained suction. The protective sheath can be repositioned or exchanged without removing the catheter from the gastrointestinal tract, allowing multiple collection attempts if initial fluid availability is insufficient, thereby ensuring adequate sample volume for analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The device allows dynamic adjustment of the catheter position and sheath placement to optimize fluid collection. The catheter can be repositioned within the sheath or the sheath itself can be advanced or withdrawn to reach different fluid pools, increasing the likelihood of collecting sufficient fluid volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the endoscope is advanced to the duodenum to collect fluid, then the target site is reached, but the endoscope itself becomes contaminated by oral, nasopharyngeal, esophageal and gastric microflora

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to target siteVSAvoidsterility of collection device

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is nested within a protective sheath that extends the full length of the endoscope working channel. This nested configuration allows the endoscope to advance to the target site while the catheter remains protected within the sheath, preventing contamination of the collection device during the advancement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The system separates the navigation function (performed by the endoscope) from the collection function (performed by the protected catheter). The endoscope can be advanced to the target site without concern for contamination, while the catheter within the protective sheath remains sterile and dedicated to fluid collection.

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

Enables efficient and sterile collection of small amounts of fluid, reducing contamination and improving diagnostic accuracy by maintaining a sterile environment during the aspiration process.

Implementation Method 1

The suction tube may include at least one capillary tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS20240041306A1Endoscopic fluid aspiration device

Publication Date: 2024.02.08 CEDARS SINAI MEDICAL CENT

AI summary

An endoscopic device for use in a patient's body in disclosed. The endoscopic device may include an outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a suction tube inside the outer sheath, a handle coupled to the distal end of the outer sheath, and a cap on the proximal end of the outer sheath, positioned to seal the proximal end of the outer sheath, wherein the outer sheath comprises a sterile appliance, wherein the cap is structured to open in response to a force applied through the suction tube, and wherein the suction tube comprises an internal cavity.