Flexible Articulating Nephroscope for Integrated Stone Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical procedures for removing large and firm kidney stones, such as PCNL, require multiple instruments for stone fragmentation and visualization, which are time-consuming and costly due to the need for sterilization of reusable flexible cystoscopes.

Innovation Solution

A nephroscope with a combined design that integrates stone fragmentation and visualization capabilities into a single device, featuring a grippable proximal portion, an elongated rigid portion, and a flexible distal portion with an articulation controller, allowing for adjustable positioning and integrated illumination, imaging, and laser ablation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate instruments are used for stone fragmentation and visualization, then each instrument can be optimized for its specific function, but the procedural time increases and sterilization costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate instruments (nephroscope for visualization, lithotripter for fragmentation) into a single integrated nephroscope device that performs both visualization and stone fragmentation functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for instrument swapping and reducing procedural time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nephroscope is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform visualization, illumination, and stone fragmentation operations within a single instrument, allowing one device to replace multiple specialized tools while maintaining functional effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple separate instruments are used for stone fragmentation and visualization, then each instrument can be optimized for its specific function, but the sterilization costs and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional optimizationVSAvoidsterilization complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated nephroscope can be configured as a single-use disposable device, eliminating the need for complex sterilization procedures between patients and reducing both time and cost associated with sterilization while maintaining functional performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If a rigid nephroscope is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to navigate and locate kidney stones is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidnavigation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The nephroscope body is divided into distinct segments including a rigid proximal portion for structural support and a flexible distal portion for navigation, allowing each segment to fulfill its specific functional requirements while maintaining overall device integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distal portion of the nephroscope is designed to be flexible rather than rigid, enabling it to adapt and bend to navigate the complex anatomy of the kidney and calyces, thereby improving the ability to locate and access kidney stones while the proximal rigid portion maintains structural simplicity for manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 nephroscope reduces procedural time and costs by eliminating the need for instrument swapping and sterilization of separate devices, providing efficient stone fragmentation and comprehensive visualization in a single-use or partially reusable configuration.

Implementation Method 1

at least one light-emitting diode on the circuit board. The at least one light-emitting diode can emit light distally away from the distal end of the body to illuminate the kidney stone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

an optical fiber extending along a working channel in the body to the distal end of the body. The optical fiber can deliver laser light to the kidney stone to ablate the kidney stone into kidney stone fragments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS20250318874A1Nephroscope with flexible and articulatable distal portion

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

A nephroscope can include a body that is at least partially insertable into a kidney of a patient. An articulation controller on a grippable proximal portion of the body can adjust a position of a flexible distal portion of the body to locate a kidney stone when the body is inserted into the kidney of the patient. The articulation controller can optionally releasably lock the articulation of the flexible distal portion, to fixedly position the flexible distal portion at a specified location proximate the kidney stone. The distal end of the body can include an illuminator to illuminate the kidney stone, a camera to provide a video image of the illuminated kidney stone, an optical fiber to deliver laser light that ablates the kidney stone, and an irrigation lumen and a suction lumen to flush the kidney stone and remove kidney stone fragments.