Laser Tip Reflective Surface Directing Reflected Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser tips for medical procedures, particularly in minimally invasive surgeries like endoscopic submucosal dissection, face challenges in safely directing laser energy to target tissues without damaging normal tissues or causing perforations, especially due to reflected laser light and the complexity of handling thin tissue walls.

Innovation Solution

A laser tip design featuring a detachable mounting portion with a contact portion and a coupler, including a reflective surface that directs reflected laser light away from normal tissues, and a contact surface with a protrusion or recessed curvature to manage bleeding and tissue cutting efficiently, while preventing unintentional adhesion with biological tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a laser tip is used to coagulate blood by absorbing laser light, then hemostasis is achieved, but reflected laser light may inadvertently damage normal tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehemostasis effectivenessVSAvoidreflected laser light damage to normal tissue
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reflective portion, which initially causes harmful reflected light, is converted into a beneficial element by directing the reflected light toward the coupler. This transforms the harmful reflection into a useful function that prevents normal tissue damage while maintaining hemostasis effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupler acts as an intermediary element between the contact portion and the mounting portion. It receives the reflected laser light from the reflective portion and directs it away from normal tissue, serving as a mediator that resolves the contradiction between hemostasis effectiveness and prevention of tissue damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the contact portion is positioned close to the mounting portion for compact design, then device size is reduced, but thermal conduction may cause unintended heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaser tip structure compactnessVSAvoidunintended thermal heating of normal tissue
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful thermal conduction effect is extracted and eliminated by introducing the coupler as a thermal barrier between the contact portion and mounting portion. This allows the design to maintain compactness while preventing unintended heat transfer to normal tissue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupler serves as a thermal intermediary that blocks heat transfer between the heated contact portion and the mounting portion. This mediator prevents thermal conduction from causing unintended heating of normal tissue while allowing the laser tip to remain compact

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single laser tip design is used for multiple surgical operations, then device versatility is improved, but precision for specific procedures may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaser tip applicability to multiple proceduresVSAvoidtip shape precision for specific procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The laser tip is segmented into distinct functional portions (contact portion, coupler, mounting portion) that can be independently designed and optimized. This segmentation allows each portion to be precisely engineered for specific surgical procedures while maintaining overall device versatility through the modular structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design ensures safe and precise laser treatment by preventing normal tissue damage from reflected light and effectively managing bleeding and tissue cutting, reducing the risk of perforation and adhesion, thus enhancing surgical safety and precision.

Implementation Method 1

the contact portion has a reflective portion provided at a rear end, the reflective portion reflecting the laser light, directed forward from the laser radiation opening, toward the coupler

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The laser tip is irradiated with laser light to be heated, and the heated laser tip is put into contact with the dissection target site or the vicinity thereof, so that the blood is coagulated and thus bleeding is stopped

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3400897B1Laser tip, laser treatment tool, laser treatment device, and laser treatment system
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 J MORITA MANUFACTURING CORP
  • EP3400897B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3400897B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3400897B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laser tip (70) is attachable to a laser radiation opening (63a) provided at a tip end of a laser transmission tube (63). From the laser radiation opening (63a), laser light (57a) is directed. The laser tip (70) includes a laser transmission tube attaching portion (71) detachable from the laser radiation opening (63a), a contact portion (72) contactable with a biological tissue, the contact portion 72 being provided to the front of the laser transmission tube attaching portion (71) in a direction in which the laser light (57a) is directed from the laser radiation opening (63a), with an open space (S) being provided between the contact portion (72) and the laser transmission tube attaching portion (71), and a coupler (73) coupling a part of the contact portion (72) and a part of the laser transmission tube attaching portion (71) to each other, wherein the contact portion (72) has a reflective surface (72b) at a rear end thereof, the reflective surface (72b) being configured to reflect the laser light (57a), directed forward from the laser radiation opening (63a), toward the coupler (73).