Endoscopic Plicator Vacuum Chamber Tissue Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgery methods for forming tissue plications in the stomach are invasive and require surgical or laparoscopic interventions, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Development of endoscopic plicators that can be passed transorally into the stomach to engage and plicate stomach tissue using a vacuum chamber or other components, allowing serosal tissue sections to be brought into contact and secured with sutures, staples, or mesh elements, thereby forming durable plications without the need for invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical or laparoscopic interventions are used to form tissue plications, then the plications can be formed with adequate tissue contact and bonding, but the procedures become invasive and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscopic plicator system nests multiple functional components within a single endoscope shaft, including the vacuum chamber, stapling mechanism, and tissue engagement elements. This nested configuration allows the complex plication-forming system to be delivered through the minimally invasive endoscopic route while maintaining all necessary functions for reliable tissue bonding
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum chamber acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables tissue engagement and positioning without direct surgical manipulation. By using vacuum suction to draw tissue into the chamber and position it against the stapling surface, the system achieves reliable tissue contact and bonding through a mediating device rather than direct surgical handling
2Ease of operation
If endoscopic plicators with vacuum chambers are used, then minimally invasive plication formation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscopic plicator is designed as a multi-functional device that combines vacuum suction, tissue engagement, stapling, and plication formation within a single instrument. This universal design consolidates multiple separate surgical tools into one device, reducing the overall procedural complexity despite the increased sophistication of individual components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the vacuum chamber, stapling mechanism, and tissue plication components into an integrated endoscopic device. By combining these previously separate functions into a single unified instrument, the system achieves minimally invasive access while managing device complexity through functional integration
3Reliability
If serosal tissue sections are brought into contact for bonding, then durable plications are formed, but the time required for adhesion formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stapling mechanism performs preliminary mechanical bonding of the serosal tissue sections before natural adhesion processes complete. By pre-securing the tissue layers together with staples during the plication formation, the system reduces the time required for full adhesion strength while maintaining durable long-term bonding
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 the formation of durable tissue plications within the stomach using minimally invasive techniques, reducing the need for surgical intervention and facilitating the retention of medical implants, while promoting strong serosal bonding for extended durability.
Implementation Method 1
engage and plicate stomach tissue using a vacuum chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are endoscopic plicators passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed plicators allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver sutures, staples or other means for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications is formed, medical devices may be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.