High-frequency Treatment Instrument with Movable Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-frequency treatment instruments require complex curving and extension operations of the endoscope and treatment electrode, necessitating high-level operational techniques and attention to secure contact with the target tissue for effective tissue dissection.

Innovation Solution

A high-frequency treatment instrument with a pair of arm portions that can freely extend and retract from a sheath, allowing the treatment electrode to be stretched and positioned to increase contact area with the target tissue without the need for endoscope curving, facilitating direct operation and enhanced tissue dissection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the knife portion is configured to be extended in the elongate direction, then the contact area with target tissue can be secured, but complex curving and extend-retract operations of the endoscope and treatment electrode are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact area with target tissueVSAvoidcomplexity of endoscope manipulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment electrode is designed to be movable relative to the sheath, allowing it to extend and retract along the longitudinal direction. This dynamic configuration enables the electrode to be positioned at different locations along the sheath length, providing flexibility in treating lesions at various depths without requiring complex endoscope curving operations. The electrode can be extended to reach deeper lesions or retracted for shallower treatments, simplifying the overall procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of relying solely on endoscope curving (three-dimensional manipulation) to reach target tissues, the invention introduces a longitudinal dimension for the treatment electrode itself. The electrode can be extended along the length of the sheath to reach lesions that would otherwise require complex angular adjustments of the endoscope, thereby reducing the complexity of endoscope manipulation while maintaining adequate contact area with target tissue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the knife portion is extended to increase contact area, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but high-level operation techniques and close attention are required for simultaneous observation and operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact area with target tissueVSAvoidease of simultaneous observation and operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable treatment electrode allows the operator to extend it to the appropriate length for the specific lesion being treated, rather than requiring fixed complex maneuvers. This dynamic adjustment simplifies the operation by allowing direct extension to the needed contact area without requiring high-level techniques for simultaneous endoscope curving and electrode manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the complexity of endoscope curving operations by providing a linear extension capability through the movable electrode. Instead of requiring the operator to simultaneously manage endoscope curvature and electrode position, the electrode can be simply extended along the sheath axis to reach the target tissue, separating the positioning function from complex angular maneuvers and thereby improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the treatment electrode is positioned to increase contact area, then tissue dissection efficiency is improved, but the procedure becomes more complex requiring coordinated operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue dissection efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination of operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable treatment electrode provides a simple dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the operator to extend the electrode to the appropriate length for the lesion size and depth. This single-degree-of-freedom movement (extension along the sheath axis) is much simpler to coordinate than simultaneous endoscope curving and electrode positioning, thereby improving tissue dissection efficiency without significantly increasing procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention addresses the need for increased contact area by extending the electrode along the longitudinal dimension of the sheath rather than requiring complex spatial positioning through endoscope curving. This one-dimensional extension approach simplifies the coordination of operations while still achieving adequate contact area for efficient tissue dissection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 simplifies the procedure by allowing direct operation of the treatment electrode, increasing contact area with the target tissue, and reducing the complexity of endoscope manipulation, thereby improving the efficiency and ease of high-frequency tissue treatment.

Implementation Method 1

By the use of the high-frequency treatment instrument described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H08-299355, it is possible to dissect the submucosal layer by allowing high-frequency current to flow in the knife portion to cut out a mucous membrane contacting the knife portion.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh-frequency current: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2756816B1High-frequency treatment instrument
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 YAHAGI SEITETSU
  • EP2756816B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2756816B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2756816B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A high-frequency treatment instrument for performing a high-frequency treatment on a pathological lesion portion includes an elongated flexible sheath 2, a pair of arm portions 3A and 3B which is disposed in the sheath 2 so as to freely extend and retract, which is in a closed state in the sheath, and which is opened in a direction moving away from a center axial line of the sheath 2 when it protrudes from the distal end of the sheath 2, a linear treatment electrode which is connected to the distal end sides of the pair of arm portions and which is stretched between the arm portions when the pair of arm portions are opened, an operating wire (elongated extension member) which is disposed in the sheath 2 so as to freely extend and retract and the distal end of which is connected to the treatment electrode, and an operating portion, to which the proximal ends of the sheath and the operating wire are connected, and which operates the operating wire to extend and retract relative to the sheath 2. According to the invention, it is possible to facilitate a procedure by enabling a treatment on a target tissue without performing a curving operation of an endoscope.