Endoscopic Tissue Anchor Deployment via Needle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical methods for gastrointestinal disorders, such as morbid obesity, face challenges including life-threatening complications, tissue damage from sutures or staples, and the need for precise and quick tissue plication procedures, especially in transesophageal procedures where anchoring devices must engage the muscularis or serosa layers without puncturing adjacent tissues.

Innovation Solution

The development of endoscopic devices with tissue manipulation assemblies and needle deployment systems that allow for the deployment of tissue anchors through the muscularis and serosa layers, enabling quick and secure tissue folding and anchoring within the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the need for external incisions and minimizing tissue damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional sewing devices or manual suturing methods are used to secure tissue plication, then tissue can be anchored, but the procedure time is extended and the number of intubations required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue anchoring reliabilityVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical sewing devices and manual suturing with an endoscopic needle deployment system that delivers tissue anchors through a catheter. The needle pierces the tissue and deploys the anchor in a single motion, eliminating the need for complex sewing instruments and manual knot-tying, thereby significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining anchoring reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the tissue anchoring function from the complex sewing and suturing process, isolating it as a separate needle-based delivery system. This allows the anchoring action to be performed independently and quickly through the endoscope working channel, reducing the overall procedure time and number of intubations required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If anchors are placed transesophageally to avoid external incisions, then patient trauma is reduced, but the risk of inadvertently puncturing adjacent tissue or organs increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient traumaVSAvoidtissue engagement safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an endoscope as an intermediary device that provides visual guidance and a controlled working channel for needle deployment. The endoscope allows real-time visualization of the tissue and surrounding structures, enabling precise needle placement through the transesophageal route while minimizing the risk of inadvertently puncturing adjacent organs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary visualization and positioning through the endoscope before needle deployment. The tissue target is identified and the needle path is planned in advance, allowing the practitioner to safely pierce the stomach wall and engage the muscularis or serosa layers without inadvertently damaging adjacent structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If conventional anchors or staples are used to secure tissue, then tissue can be held in place, but the sutures or staples may tear through the tissue or slip

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue holding strengthVSAvoidanchor security

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the anchoring device by using expandable or deployable anchors instead of conventional rigid staples or sutures. These anchors are delivered in a compressed state through the needle, then expanded or deployed within the tissue to create secure engagement points that resist both tearing and slipping, providing reliable tissue holding strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If conventional anchors are used, then tissue can be secured, but the devices are large and unsuitable for low-profile delivery through the body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue securementVSAvoiddelivery profile

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the nesting principle by placing the anchor within the needle lumen during delivery. The anchor is compressed or folded to fit inside the narrow needle bore, allowing low-profile delivery through the endoscope working channel. Once deployed, the anchor expands or unfolds to provide adequate tissue securement, effectively hiding the complex anchor structure within a simple delivery needle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8920436B2Endoscopic tissue anchor deployment

Publication Date: 2014.12.30 USGI MEDICAL INC

AI summary

An endoscopic tissue anchor deployment device includes a handle, an elongated shaft defining an internal lumen, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft. A tissue anchor catheter is removably inserted through the lumen of the elongated shaft, the catheter having a tissue anchor assembly that is deployable from its distal end. The handle may include a pin and track assembly that define a series of handle actuation steps corresponding to deployment steps for the deployment device end effector and the tissue anchor catheter. In some embodiments, the handle includes a catheter stop member that prevents movement of the tissue anchor catheter under certain circumstances, and a handle stop member that prevents actuation of the handle under certain circumstances.