Expandable Endoscopic Tissue Collection Instrument

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic treatment instruments, such as cup-type and basket-type forceps, have limited capacity due to size constraints for insertion through a treatment instrument channel, requiring multiple collections and increasing treatment time.

Innovation Solution

A treatment instrument with a tubular longitudinal-axis member, a collecting member, and a frame part that can expand to accommodate larger volumes, featuring a volume adjusting mechanism to optimize tissue collection efficiency within size limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the size of the treatment instrument is increased to collect more tissue at one time, then the tissue collection efficiency is improved, but the instrument cannot be inserted through the treatment instrument channel of the flexible endoscope

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue collection volumeVSAvoidinstrument size

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The collecting member is designed to be collapsible into a compact state that fits within the treatment instrument channel during insertion, then expandable to a large volume for tissue collection. The frame part with curved portions allows the collecting member to nest within itself or the longitudinal-axis member, similar to nested dolls, enabling the transition from small insertion profile to large collection capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment instrument employs dynamic structure where the collecting member can change its volume and shape. The frame part includes curved portions that can be deformed to collapse the collecting member for insertion, then restored to expand the collection volume. This dynamic transformation allows the instrument to adapt between two extreme states: compact for insertion and expanded for tissue collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Length of moving object

If the treatment instrument uses cup-type or basket-type forceps with fixed small size, then it can be inserted through the treatment instrument channel, but it requires multiple collections to remove all necrotic tissues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument sizeVSAvoidtissue collection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment instrument employs dynamic structure where the collecting member can change its volume and shape. The frame part includes curved portions that can be deformed to collapse the collecting member for insertion, then restored to expand the collection volume. This dynamic transformation allows the instrument to adapt between two extreme states: compact for insertion and expanded for tissue collection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment instrument changes the volume parameter of the collecting member dynamically. By adjusting the curvature of the frame part's curved portions, the collecting member's volume can be varied from a small insertion state to a large collection state, allowing optimization of both insertability and tissue collection capacity in a single instrument.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If the collecting member is made collapsible to fit within the treatment instrument channel, then it can be inserted through the channel, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument insertabilityVSAvoidcollecting member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame part is divided into multiple curved portions that can independently deform to enable collapsing and expanding of the collecting member. This segmentation allows the complex transformation to be achieved through coordinated movement of simpler modular elements, making the overall system manageable despite its dynamic capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9155551B2Treatment instrument

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A treatment instrument has a longitudinal-axis member having a longitudinal axis, a curved portion formed on a distal end side of the longitudinal-axis member, a lumen formed along the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal-axis member, and a through hole that communicates with the lumen, and opens toward the inner side of a curve of the curved portion when the curved portion is curved.