Endoscopy Ergonomic Risk Alerts for Colonoscope Advancement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopic procedures, such as colonoscopy, are hindered by looping of the colon, leading to patient discomfort, prolonged examination times, and increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries for technicians due to manual pressure and patient repositioning, which current technologies fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

An AI/ML-based medical alert system predicts potential risks to patients and staff by analyzing historical and proposed procedural information, providing alerts and ergonomic interventions, including the use of compression devices and inserts, to mitigate these risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual pressure is applied by a technician to support the patient's colon, then the colonoscope can be advanced, but the technician is at risk of musculoskeletal injuries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolonoscope advancementVSAvoidmusculoskeletal injuries to technician

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A mechanical support device is introduced as an intermediary between the technician and the patient's colon. The device includes a support member that can be positioned along the patient's body to provide mechanical support for colon advancement, thereby reducing the physical burden on the technician and preventing musculoskeletal injuries while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical action of the technician applying pressure is replaced by an automated or semi-automated mechanical support system. The support device uses mechanical structures (such as adjustable arms, springs, or hydraulic mechanisms) to provide the necessary force for colon advancement, substituting human muscle power with a engineered mechanical system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the patient is repositioned to change colon orientation, then the colonoscope can be advanced, but the sedated patient is difficult to move and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolonoscope advancementVSAvoidpatient injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical support device is positioned and configured before the colonoscope advancement begins. The support member is pre-adjusted to the appropriate location and orientation, so that when advancement is needed, the colon is already mechanically supported without requiring difficult patient repositioning operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical support device serves as an intermediary that provides colon support without requiring direct manipulation of the patient. The device can be adjusted to different positions and orientations, allowing the colon to be supported in various configurations without moving the sedated patient, thereby eliminating safety risks associated with patient handling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If differential pressure is applied to support the colon, then the colonoscope can be advanced, but the procedure becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolonoscope advancementVSAvoidprocedure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical support device is designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the support member to be quickly repositioned and reconfigured during the procedure. This enables the technician to adapt the support to different colon configurations without time-consuming manual adjustments, maintaining both effectiveness and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support device is pre-configured and ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup during the procedure. The device can be quickly adjusted to different positions as needed, providing immediate mechanical support without adding significant time to the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250218562A1Medical alert system based on endoscopy ergonomic risk assessment and prediction

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 COLOWRAP LLC

AI summary

A medical alert system that provides alerts based on predictions of various potential risks to a patient, a physician, and/or medical staff for endoscopy procedures. The medical alert system includes a communication interface, memory, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive, at the communication interface of the medical alert system, a request for a risk prediction for a future endoscopic procedure, where the request includes procedural information related to at least one of historical endoscopic procedure information or proposed endoscopic procedural information for the future endoscopic procedure. In response, the system outputs, via the communication interface, a risk prediction alert associated with performance of the future endoscopic procedure. The alert is based on predicted risks for one or more risks to a patient, a physician, and/or staff based on at least one of biographical information or the proposed endoscopic procedural information.