Fluid Seal Endoscope Access Device for Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic systems face limitations such as small and unsuitable working channels, low resolution imaging, and mechanical seals that cause friction and restrict instrument access during medical procedures, particularly in endoluminal and transluminal procedures.
Innovation Solution
An access device with flexible or semi-rigid control elements for curvature manipulation, integrated image sensors for improved imaging, working channels for irrigation and drainage, and fluid seals to reduce friction and allow easier instrument access, enabling insertion through natural orifices and providing better access and imaging quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical seals are used to maintain insufflation through the endoscope, then insufflation can be maintained, but friction increases and instrument access is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical seals with a pneumatic valve system. The valve includes a valve body with an opening and a movable valve element that can be actuated to open or close the opening. This pneumatic control mechanism eliminates the high friction associated with mechanical seals while maintaining the ability to control insufflation flow, thereby improving instrument access without sacrificing insufflation maintenance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a controllable valve mechanism to regulate insufflation gas flow. The valve element responds to pressure differential or actuation forces to control the opening, allowing smooth gas flow regulation without mechanical contact friction. This pneumatic approach enables both reliable insufflation maintenance and unrestricted instrument passage through the endoscope
2Volume of moving object
If the working channel is made small to fit within the endoscope, then the endoscope size is reduced, but instrument suitability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a collapsible or expandable working channel that can dynamically change its cross-sectional area. When collapsed, the channel maintains a small profile allowing the endoscope to remain compact; when expanded, it provides sufficient space for various surgical instruments. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between small endoscope size and instrument suitability by adapting the channel size to the specific operational requirements
3Stability of the object's composition
If fibers are used for imaging through the endoscope, then the endoscope can be made flexible, but image resolution is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional fiber optic imaging bundles with a flexible flat panel display or flexible circuit board containing imaging sensors. These flexible substrates can be bent to match the endoscope's curvature while providing high-resolution digital imaging capability. The flexible thin film structure maintains the endoscope's flexibility for navigating bodily passages while eliminating the resolution limitations of fiber optic bundles through direct digital sensor arrays
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
An access device (100) adapted and configured to be inserted through a natural biological orifice, and related surgical methods are provided. The access device includes a body, a nozzle means and means for delivering a pressurized flow of fluid to the nozzle means. The body is configured and dimensioned to be inserted through a natural bodily orifice and has proximal and distal end portions and defines at. least one lumen (170) therethrough to accommodate passage of one or more surgical instruments. The nozzle means is operatively associated with the body for directing pressurized fluid into the lumen to develop a pressure differential in an area within a region within the lumen to form a fluid seal around the one or more surgical instruments passing therethrough.