Endoscopic Instrument for Transoral Stomach Tissue Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical treatments for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and obesity are invasive, complex, and often result in complications due to the fragile nature of esophageal tissue and the difficulty in achieving long-term fixation of medical devices within the esophagus.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic instrument capable of delivering fixating members, such as staples or sutures, to engage and secure stomach and esophageal tissues, allowing for minimal invasive procedures with improved durability and reduced risk of complications by utilizing an instrument that can penetrate multiple layers of tissue and facilitate the creation of a pouch around a volume filling device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard surgical treatment (Nissen fundoplication) is used to treat GERD, then the lower esophageal sphincter is strengthened and acid reflux is prevented, but the procedure is invasive, complex, and difficult to perform transorally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the stomach fundus tissue as an intermediary to create an anti-reflux valve that prevents acid reflux. Instead of directly wrapping the stomach around the LES as in Nissen fundoplication, the instrument delivers fastening members through the stomach wall to create a valve structure that mediates the anti-reflux function in a less invasive manner
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical surgical procedure of Nissen fundoplication with an endoscopic instrument that delivers fastening members through the stomach wall. This substitutes the traditional mechanical surgical approach with a less invasive endoscopic delivery system that achieves similar functional results
2Reliability
If transoral anti-reflux valve creation is performed by manipulating tissue multiple times and applying individual fasteners, then an anti-reflux valve is created, but the procedure increases time consumption and risk of mistakes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening members into a single integrated instrument delivery system. Instead of applying individual fasteners one by one through multiple tissue manipulations, the instrument delivers multiple fastening members simultaneously or in sequence through a single transoral approach, reducing procedure time and the risk of mistakes
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is pre-configured with multiple fastening members before insertion. The fastening members are prepared and positioned in advance within the instrument, allowing for efficient delivery to the target site without requiring multiple separate manipulation steps during the procedure
3Stability of the object's composition
If devices are sutured to esophageal tissue for long-term implantation, then the device is secured, but the esophageal tissue is fragile and easy to damage or migrate through
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses stomach fundus tissue as an intermediary substrate for device fixation. Instead of suturing directly to the fragile esophageal tissue, the device is anchored to the more robust stomach wall, which serves as a mediator that provides stronger anchoring while protecting the esophageal tissue from direct manipulation and damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different fixation strategies to different tissue types based on their local properties. The instrument delivers fastening members that penetrate the stomach wall at specific locations to create anchors, utilizing the stronger serosal layer of the stomach for secure fixation while avoiding the fragile esophageal tissue
4Reliability
If multiple individual fasteners are applied to create an anti-reflux valve, then the valve is secured, but the number of steps and potential mistakes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fastening functions into a single integrated instrument. The device delivers multiple fastening members through one instrument platform, combining what would otherwise be separate fastening operations into a unified delivery system that reduces the number of discrete steps and potential error points
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic instrument adapted to engage the stomach tissue and/or the esophagus tissue of a patient from the inside and/or outside thereof is provided. The esophagus being a substantially tube shaped tissue leading to the stomach comprising stomach tissue, the esophagus having an esophagus center axis, being substantially aligned with a cranial-caudal axis of the patient and having a substantially circular circumference substantially aligned with a horizontal plane of the patient, the esophagus further having an inner and outer substantially cylindrical surface extending radially in relation to the esophagus center axis, wherein said instrument is adapted to deliver at least one fixating member, such that said at least one fixating member engages at least the stomach tissue.