Endoscopic Sheath With Integral Suction Lumen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope sheaths that provide suction capabilities often compromise the articulation and suction efficiency of endoscopes, and lack effective leak detection mechanisms, leading to contamination risks and increased cleaning costs.
Innovation Solution
A sheath assembly with an elongate tubular body and a plug that includes a first and second wall section defining an integral suction lumen, connectable to a negative pressure source, and a leak detection mechanism using a fluid-filled container to monitor for bubbles indicating leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a disposable sheath is placed over the endoscope to protect from contamination, then protection from contamination is improved, but the ability to utilize the scope's integral suction lumen is disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective sheath function with the suction function by integrating a suction lumen directly into the sheath structure. The sheath includes an elongate body with a suction lumen that runs along its length, allowing suction to be performed through the sheath itself rather than requiring the endoscope's integral suction lumen. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by maintaining both contamination protection and suction capability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath acts as an intermediary device that provides an alternative pathway for suction. Instead of relying on the endoscope's internal suction lumen (which is blocked by the sheath), the sheath introduces its own suction lumen as a mediator that bypasses the blockage. The suction pump connects to the sheath's lumen, creating an independent suction pathway that works in conjunction with the protective sheath function.
2Reliability
If multiple suction lumens are provided in the sheath, then the potential for occlusion is minimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the suction function into multiple separate lumens within the sheath structure. Instead of using a single large suction lumen that could easily become occluded, the design incorporates multiple smaller lumens that can work in parallel. This segmentation reduces the risk of complete suction failure, as occlusion of one lumen does not prevent suction through the others. The segmented approach maintains reliability while keeping each individual lumen simple in structure.
3Ease of operation
If the sheath incorporates alternate suction capability through additional lumens, then suction capability is maintained, but the cross-sectional area of each lumen is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the cross-sectional area limitation by transitioning from a single-dimension solution (one large lumen) to a multi-dimensional solution (multiple lumens arranged in space). By distributing the suction function across multiple lumens positioned at different locations and orientations within the sheath, the design maintains adequate total suction capacity while each individual lumen can have a smaller cross-sectional area. This spatial arrangement allows the sheath to provide robust suction capability without requiring any single lumen to be excessively large.
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
The sheath assembly maintains suction efficiency and articulation capabilities while protecting the endoscope from contamination, and allows for rapid detection of leaks, reducing the need for additional scopes during cleaning and minimizing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second wall sections define an integral suction lumen therebetween connectable in fluid communication with a first source of negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
The plug has a lens surface through which light or other energy is transmissible to or from the endoscope tip
Implementation Method 3
a leak detection mechanism using a fluid-filled container to monitor for bubbles indicating leaks
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~3B
AI summary
A sheath assembly for an endoscope includes an elongate tubular body and a plug. The endoscope has a handle portion and a scope portion extending therefrom to a tip. The body includes first and second wall sections and extends along a longitudinal axis between first and second distal openings located at distal and proximal ends thereof, respectively. The first wall section extends radially about the longitudinal axis to define a scope lumen. The scope portion is receivable in the scope lumen with the distal and proximal ends. The second wall section extends radially about a portion of the first wall section and longitudinally between second distal and proximal end openings. The first and second wall sections define an integral suction lumen in fluid communication with a first source of negative pressure. The plug is mated with the distal end opening and includes a lens surface through which energy is transmissible.