Flexible Endoscopic Stent Deployment and Removal System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent placement and removal procedures are cumbersome, inefficient, and cause patient discomfort due to the use of non-specialized, complex equipment, particularly for prostatic stents, which often require rigid cannulas that can lead to local trauma.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a handle, shaft, outer sleeve, and inner cannula that allows for the deployment and removal of stents, featuring a sliding mechanism to constrain and release the stent, along with a camera module for visualization and a reusable handle with video screen for monitoring, enabling precise and minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rigid cannulas are used for stent placement, then stent deployment can be achieved, but patient discomfort and local trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, soft-tipped cannula instead of a rigid conventional cannula. The flexible tip can be inserted through the urethral meatus and curved to reach the prostate gland without causing trauma or discomfort to the patient's delicate tissues, while still providing sufficient structural support for stent deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula incorporates a dynamic, adjustable structure where the tip can be curved and positioned flexibly within the urethral passage. This dynamic capability allows the cannula to adapt to the patient's anatomy and avoid rigid impacts with surrounding tissues, reducing trauma while maintaining deployment reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional general purpose endoscopic devices are used, then stent placement is possible, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments: a flexible cannula for insertion and positioning, an expandable stent for urethral support, and a simple deployment mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall device complexity compared to conventional integrated endoscopic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from conventional endoscopic devices, retaining only the essential elements needed for stent placement: the flexible cannula, the expandable stent, and a simple deployment mechanism. This extraction simplifies the device while maintaining its primary function.
3Reliability
If conventional stent removal procedures are used, then stent retrieval can be achieved, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is designed with dynamic expandability, allowing it to be compressed to a small fraction of its original size for easy retrieval. The stent can be rapidly deployed during insertion and then quickly compressed and removed during the procedure, significantly reducing the time required compared to conventional rigid stents that require complex removal tools and procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are configured for precise placement of surgical stents. A customized endoscopic system has a stent positioned between an inner cannula and the outer sleeve. The inner cannula has an integrated camera and illumination on its distal tip. The operator can make precise stent placements while viewing live video on an integrated display mounted on the hand piece. The stent can be removed using a specialized hook device. The system can have a single use portion that includes the cannula with imaging module, stent and outer sleeve. The re-usable portion can include the hand piece and display screen.