Magnetic Control Endoscope for Stable Gastrointestinal Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gastrointestinal tract diagnosis methods using flexible hard tubes and swallowable capsule cameras face issues such as discomfort, incomplete examinations, potential health risks, and inefficiencies in image capture and retrieval, with existing magnetic control systems failing to maintain a stable endoscope position for clear imaging.
Innovation Solution
A gastrointestinal tract diagnosis system employing an endoscope with a magnetic plate and a magnetic control device that uses a magnetic stick and feedback module to generate and stabilize a magnetic force, allowing precise control and stabilization of the endoscope's movement and image capture within the gastrointestinal tract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible hard tube connected endoscope is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract, then the gastrointestinal tract can be checked, but it causes discomfort, disgorging or fear to the check receiver and may result in failing to finish a complete check
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the endoscope from the traditional flexible hard tube configuration and transforms it into a capsule-type endoscope that can be swallowed. This extraction removes the harmful hard tube from the patient's experience while maintaining the diagnostic functionality, thereby reducing discomfort and fear while still enabling complete gastrointestinal tract examination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical insertion system (flexible hard tube) with a magnetic control system. The capsule-type endoscope is controlled by external magnetic fields, substituting the mechanical pushing and positioning method with a magnetic field-based control mechanism, which eliminates the need for rigid tube insertion and reduces patient discomfort
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a capsule-type camera is swallowed for gastrointestinal tract examination, then the check process becomes less invasive, but the camera cannot be successfully excreted in some cases requiring surgical operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the endoscope from the disposable capsule concept and reintroduces it as a retrievable device. By removing the capsule from the body through the magnetic control system, the invention eliminates the risk of surgical intervention while maintaining the low-invasiveness advantage of swallowable devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system using magnetic sensors and external magnetic fields to track and control the endoscope's position and movement. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and active retrieval of the endoscope, ensuring reliable removal without surgical intervention
3Adaptability or versatility
If a capsule-type camera is used for gastrointestinal tract check, then the examination time cannot be controlled actively, but passive excretion takes 8 hours or so
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, passive capsule camera into a dynamic, actively controllable endoscope. By introducing magnetic control capabilities, the system can actively adjust the endoscope's position, movement speed, and停留 time at specific locations, enabling real-time control of the examination process and immediate retrieval when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the endoscope multi-functional by combining imaging, magnetic actuation, and active control capabilities in a single device. This universal design allows the endoscope to perform multiple functions including controlled navigation, real-time imaging, and on-demand retrieval, eliminating the time constraints of passive capsule cameras
4Reliability
If a capsule-type camera records complete images from beginning to end of the intestine, then no nidus is missed, but a great deal of redundant image data is generated requiring extensive review time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using magnetic control to proactively navigate the endoscope to suspected disease locations before complete examination. The magnetic field can guide the endoscope directly to areas of interest based on preliminary diagnostic information, allowing targeted imaging that captures only relevant data while maintaining detection completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by selectively imaging only the portions of the gastrointestinal tract that require examination. Instead of recording all images from beginning to end, the magnetic control system enables the endoscope to focus on specific regions of interest, reducing redundant image data while maintaining detection reliability
5Ease of operation
If more powerful magnetic force is applied to control the endoscope, then the control precision is improved, but over-friction by the endoscope may hurt the inner wall of the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the magnetic force applied to the endoscope and adjusting it in real-time. The magnetic control system measures the endoscope's position and movement, and dynamically adjusts the magnetic field strength to maintain optimal control precision while preventing excessive force that could cause friction-induced injury to the gastrointestinal tract wall
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic magnetic force adjustment instead of constant powerful magnetic force. The magnetic field strength is continuously adapted based on the endoscope's position, surrounding tissue characteristics, and required control precision, enabling high control accuracy while minimizing harmful friction effects on the body's inner wall
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 system enables more distinct and efficient image capture, reduces physical friction and injury, allows for immediate nidus detection, and decreases unnecessary image shooting and power consumption, while facilitating easier retrieval and reuse of the endoscope.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic force output module for being used to output a predetermined current to the magnetic stick so as to allow the magnetic stick to generate a predetermined current generating a predetermined magnetic force for interacting with the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic plate is adapted to cause a feedback magnetic force to a sensor of the magnetic stick
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A gastrointestinal tract diagnosis device comprising: an endoscope (10), having a magnetic plate (11) with a first magnetic pole (111) and a second magnetic pole (112); a magnetic control device (20) including a magnetic stick (21) with a first electrical magnetic pole (211) and a second electric magnetic pole (212), a magnetic force output module (22) causing a predetermined force on the first magnetic pole (111) and the second magnetic pole (112) by outputting a predetermined current; and a magnetic force feedback module (23), wherein the predetermined force is applied to the magnetic plate (11) to control the movement of the endoscope (10); the magnetic plate (11) causes a feedback magnetic force to a sensor in the magnetic stick (21) and changes the predetermined current to an offset current, and the offset current is corrected back to the predetermined current by the magnetic force feedback module (23), so as to improve the movement control of the endoscope (10). A control method based on the above disclosure is provided, too.