Flexible Endoscope Guide with Suction for Trauma Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic procedures for accessing hollow organs, such as esophagus-gastro-duodenoscopy and laryngo-bronchoscopy, are invasive and cause discomfort due to the rubbing of the endoscope sheath and excessive salivation, leading to nausea, coughing, and trauma during intubation, especially in difficult cases.
Innovation Solution
An instrument with a mouthpiece equipped with a suction chamber for aspirating saliva and fluids, a flexible tubular element with a radially expandable portion for tracheal anchoring, and a blunted introducing mandrel with a vision system to guide the endoscope and reduce trauma, allowing for improved visualization and ventilation during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional endoscope is introduced into the patient's oral cavity, then the hollow organs can be visualized, but the endoscope sheath rubs against the pharyngeal mucosa causing discomfort, nausea, and trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible guide as an intermediary device that provides a pre-formed pathway through the oral cavity and pharynx. The endoscope is then introduced through this guide rather than directly into the patient's mouth, eliminating the rubbing of the endoscope sheath against the pharyngeal mucosa while still enabling visualization of hollow organs
2Quantity of substance
If the patient lies on the left side to facilitate drainage, then saliva and liquids can exit the mouth, but the patient experiences persistent cough, suffocation, and nausea due to hindered swallowing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible guide acts as an intermediary structure that allows saliva and liquids to drain freely along its surface into the stomach without triggering the swallowing reflex. This eliminates the harmful effects of hindered swallowing while maintaining effective drainage of secretions
3Ease of operation
If a rigid laryngoscope is used for intubation, then the trachea can be accessed, but trauma occurs to the lips, tongue, gums, teeth, and vocal cords
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid laryngoscope with a flexible guide that can adapt to the patient's anatomy without causing trauma. The flexible material allows safe passage through the oral cavity and pharynx to reach the trachea, eliminating injuries to soft tissues and teeth while maintaining intubation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible guide features a curved, anatomically-adapted pathway that follows the natural contours of the oral cavity and pharynx, unlike rigid straight laryngoscopes. This curvature allows smooth navigation through bends and turns without causing mechanical trauma to surrounding tissues
4Quantity of substance
If multiple through openings are arranged on the side facing the patient's larynx, then saliva can be aspirated, but there is a risk of aspiring the velum
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible guide serves as an intermediary structure that channels saliva and secretions away from the velum and directs them safely into the stomach. This eliminates the risk of velum aspiration while maintaining effective clearance of oral cavity secretions
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
The instrument significantly reduces patient discomfort, nausea, and trauma by aspirating saliva, minimizing endoscope contact with pharyngeal mucosa, and enabling precise tracheal intubation without rigid laryngoscope-related injuries, facilitating safer and less invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tubular element (130) inserted into the sleeve (112) and having a length such that, in an operative configuration of the instrument, its distal end is positioned beyond the cricopharyngeal ring of a patient
Implementation Method 2
the mouthpiece (110) further comprises means for aspirating saliva and other fluids from the patient's oral cavity
Implementation Method 3
The flexible tubular element (130) includes a vision system, for example with optical fibres, which allows continuous vision of both the trachea
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument for accessing and visualizing hollow organs is provided. The instrument includes a mouthpiece having a perforated mask and a sleeve having a generally cylindrical or ovoid shape extending from the perforated mask substantially perpendicularly thereto and defining a channel. The instrument further includes sucking means having a suction chamber or closed volume that is restrained to the mask on the side where the sleeve is formed. The suction chamber has a plurality of through openings adapted to allow fluid communication with a surrounding environment, an intake opening communicating with the suction chamber formed on the mask, wherein the through openings are formed on the skirt of a dome-shaped member which delimits the suction chamber.