Expandable Grasping Cap for Full-Thickness Endoscopic Clipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic closure devices, particularly over-the-scope clips, face limitations in suctioning sufficient tissue for full-thickness clipping due to cap design constraints, which can lead to superficial placement and limited visibility, especially in cases of chronic or fibrotic tissue.
Innovation Solution
An expandable end cap with pivotally connected flaps that can be moved between closed and expanded configurations, featuring gripping features and control members to anchor and draw tissue into the cap, enhancing suction capability and visibility during endoscopic procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cap uses a fixed closed configuration, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the suctioned tissue area is limited and cannot achieve full-thickness clipping
Solution Approach 1:
The cap transitions from a fixed closed configuration to an expandable dynamic structure with flaps that can open and close. The flaps are pivotally connected to the proximal portion, allowing them to rotate between a closed position (for navigation) and an expanded position (for tissue suction). This dynamic capability increases the effective suctioned tissue area while maintaining structural manageability through controlled movement rather than complete structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is divided into multiple flaps (at least two) that can independently pivot and move between closed and expanded configurations. Each flap acts as a separable segment that contributes to the overall expansion capability. This segmentation allows the cap to achieve a larger effective suction area by distributing the expansion function across multiple manageable segments rather than requiring a single complex structure.
2Illumination intensity
If the cap is made translucent to permit visibility, then some visibility is achieved, but unimpeded vision is blocked and peripheral field of vision is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps transition from a closed configuration (which blocks the field of view) to an expanded configuration (which opens the field of view). When the flaps are in the expanded position, they move away from the distal opening, effectively removing the visual obstruction and providing unimpeded vision through the cap while maintaining peripheral field awareness. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between visibility and field of view by making the cap structure adaptable to the operational phase.
3Volume of moving object
If the cap depth and interior diameter are reduced, then the device is easier to navigate, but the amount of tissue that can be suctioned is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cap maintains a compact closed configuration during navigation that minimizes the profile, then expands to a larger effective volume during the tissue suction and clipping phase. The flaps pivot from a closed position (for easy navigation) to an expanded position (for increased tissue capacity), allowing the device to optimize its dimensions for different operational requirements without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The flaps are nested within the proximal portion when closed, creating a compact structure for navigation. When expanded, the flaps deploy outward from this nested state to create the necessary tissue suction volume. This nesting approach allows the cap to achieve large tissue capacity when needed while maintaining a small navigational profile, as the expansion capability is contained within the existing cap structure rather than requiring additional external components.
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
Facilitates high-quality, full-thickness clipping of tissue defects by increasing the suctioned tissue area and improving visibility, ensuring secure closure and confident clip placement, especially in fibrotic or chronic tissues.
Implementation Method 1
A proximal end of each of the flaps is pivotally connected to the distal end of the proximal portion so that the flaps are movable between a closed configuration
Implementation Method 2
an interior surface of the plurality of flaps includes a plurality of gripping features configured to anchor the flaps to a target tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A device is for facilitating an over-the-scope application of a tissue treating element and includes an end cap and control members. The cap includes a proximal portion mounted over a distal end of a scope device and a distal portion including flaps. The proximal portion extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and includes a proximal channel extending therethrough. A proximal end of each flap is pivotally connected to the distal end of the proximal portion so that the flaps are movable between a closed configuration and an expanded configuration. A distal end of each of the members is connected to a corresponding flap so that a longitudinal movement of the members relative to the proximal portion of the cap moves the flaps relative to the proximal portion between the closed and expanded configurations.