Natural Orifice Endoscopic Gallbladder Stone Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures are invasive and cosmetically unsatisfactory, posing challenges for minimally invasive treatment of cholecystolithiasis, especially in elderly or obese patients with severe complications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a flexible endoscope inserted through a natural orifice to access the gallbladder, allowing for stone extraction and gallbladder function ablation without open abdominal surgery, using techniques like ultrasonic guidance, puncture formation, and tissue fastening to create a fistulous opening for bile drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed through transcutaneous incisions, then the gallbladder can be effectively removed, but cosmetic scarring and surgical trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an endoscope as an intermediary device to access the gallbladder through the gastrointestinal tract rather than direct abdominal incisions. The endoscope navigates through the duodenum to reach the gallbladder, eliminating the need for external skin incisions and associated scarring while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by accessing the gallbladder from the internal gastrointestinal tract rather than from the external abdominal surface. This reversal of the access route transforms a procedure requiring external incisions into one that uses natural body orifices, thereby eliminating cosmetic scarring
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional laparoscopic procedure is used, then definitive treatment is achieved, but surgical trauma and pain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment into distinct phases: diagnostic evaluation through endoscopy, targeted intervention at the gallbladder-duodenum interface, and controlled stone extraction. This segmentation allows for minimal invasive intervention while maintaining treatment effectiveness, avoiding the need for complete gallbladder removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the problematic elements (gallstones and bile) through the endoscope without removing the entire gallbladder organ. This selective extraction reduces surgical trauma compared to complete cholecystectomy while still achieving the therapeutic goal of eliminating gallstone-related symptoms
3Reliability
If gallbladder is completely removed, then stone recurrence is prevented, but loss of digestive function occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by intervening only when necessary - creating a controlled communication between the gallbladder and duodenum to facilitate stone passage, rather than completely removing the gallbladder. This partial intervention prevents stone recurrence while preserving the gallbladder's digestive functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the gallbladder to serve itself by creating a natural drainage pathway into the duodenum, allowing the organ to continue its physiological function of bile storage and release while preventing stone accumulation. The gallbladder maintains its self-service capability without requiring complete removal
4Object-affected harmful factors
If endoscopic approach is used, then cosmetic results improve, but procedural difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the endoscope's multi-functionality to perform multiple tasks: diagnostic visualization, guidance for puncture creation, monitoring of stone extraction, and verification of fistula formation. This consolidates multiple procedural steps into a single versatile instrument, managing complexity while achieving cosmetic benefits
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 approach reduces pain, minimizes cosmetic scarring, lowers procedure costs, and enables treatment of complex cases with reduced risk of complications such as bile peritonitis, while allowing for the gallbladder to atrophy naturally without immediate removal.
Implementation Method 1
inserting a flexible endoscope through a natural orifice to the alimentary tract
Implementation Method 2
forming a puncture in the close contact portion
Implementation Method 3
a device for identifying positional relationship from the alimentary tract side
Implementation Method 4
allowing for the gallbladder to atrophy naturally without immediate removal
Data Source
AI summary
The application of the procedure through a natural orifice of the present invention includes the steps of: inserting a flexible endoscope through the natural orifice to the alimentary tract; incising the close-contact portion of the alimentary tract and the gall bladder under a guidance of a device for identifying the positional relationship from the alimentary tract side and forming an puncture; extracting stones in the gall bladder from the body; and removing the endoscope after completing the procedure.