Expandable Cuff Endoscopes Block Blood Flow for Direct Vessel Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic visualization of vessel interiors is indirect due to interference from fluids like blood, limiting the availability of direct imaging and surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

Endoscopes equipped with a radially-expandable cuff that can be deployed to occupy all or substantially all of the vessel cross-section, inhibiting fluid flow and allowing direct visualization by an image sensor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional endoscopes are used for vessel imaging, then the endoscope can be advanced through the vessel, but fluid (blood) flow interferes with direct visualization of the vessel interior

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualization qualityVSAvoidfluid interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful fluid (blood) from the imaging field by deploying an expandable cuff that blocks the vessel lumen, separating the visualization function from the fluid flow path. This allows the image sensor to capture clear views of the vessel interior without interference from moving blood cells and debris.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The expandable cuff acts as an intermediary element between the endoscope and the vessel wall. When deployed, it creates a controlled barrier that stops fluid flow while allowing the endoscope to maintain its position and function, effectively mediating between the need for direct imaging and the presence of interfering fluid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the endoscope diameter is increased to block fluid flow, then direct visualization is enabled, but the endoscope becomes harder to advance through the vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect imaging capabilityVSAvoidadvancement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The endoscope incorporates a dynamically changeable cuff that transitions from a compressed, low-profile state during advancement to an expanded, flow-blocking state during imaging. This dynamic transformation allows the device to overcome the contradiction between size for imaging and size for navigation by changing its effective diameter based on the operational phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The expandable cuff is nested within the endoscope shaft structure, allowing it to be compact during insertion and then expand within the vessel lumen to achieve flow blocking. This nested configuration enables the endoscope to maintain a small profile for easy advancement while achieving the larger effective diameter needed for direct visualization when deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Measurement precision

If an expandable cuff is added to the endoscope, then fluid flow can be inhibited for direct imaging, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect visualization capabilityVSAvoidendoscope structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The expandable cuff is constructed from flexible, compliant material that can be easily deployed and deflated. This flexible shell approach adds minimal structural complexity while achieving the flow-blocking function through simple radial expansion, avoiding the need for complex mechanical stoppers or rigid structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cuff deployment mechanism utilizes pneumatic or hydraulic inflation principles, where fluid pressure is applied to expand the cuff radially. This approach simplifies the mechanical complexity by using pressure-driven expansion rather than complex mechanical linkages, allowing the cuff to be deployed through a simple inflation port controlled by a hub mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 direct imaging and surgical procedures within vessels by preventing fluid interference, facilitating procedures like angioplasty, electrocauterization, and neuroablation.

Implementation Method 1

the expandable cuff, when deployed, in combination with the shaft, occupies all or substantially all of an interior area of a cross section of the vessel. As such, when deployed, the expandable cuff and shaft can inhibit, reduce, or prevent fluid flow (e.g., blood flow) in the vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical blockage:

Implementation Method 2

An illuminating element within the distal tip emits light within the field of view of the image sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission:

Data Source

PatentUS20250261838A1Direct endoluminal- and/or endovascular-illumination systems and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 ENLIGHTENVUE LLC

AI summary

In some embodiments, endoscopy systems and/or methods of using endoscopy systems are described. In some embodiments, an endoscopy system comprises a shaft having an image sensor within a distal tip of the shaft. The shaft can have an expandable cuff disposed on an outer surface of the shaft. The expandable cuff can be moved from a contracted configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, an outer surface of the expandable cuff can inhibit, reduce, or prevent fluid (e.g., blood) flow in the vessel. Inhibiting or preventing the fluid flow can permit direct visualization of the interior of the vessel by the image sensor without interference from the fluid.