Patency Capsule with Color-Changing Indicator for Intestinal Stenosis Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capsule endoscopy methods lack accuracy in determining intestinal patency, leading to potential capsule retention and complications, especially in cases of intestinal stenosis, and often require invasive or radiation-based diagnostic methods.
Innovation Solution
A digestive tract patency capsule with an outer membrane made from sustained-release enteric material and an indicator that changes urine color upon stenosis detection, allowing for non-invasive and safe assessment of intestinal patency before capsule endoscopy, using a supporting material and envelope soluble in digestive juices to facilitate breakdown and passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a normal capsule endoscopy is used, then the examination can be performed, but capsule retention may occur due to intestinal stenosis causing serious consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a patency capsule before the actual capsule endoscopy examination. The patency capsule is designed to be discharged naturally if the digestive tract is patent, or retained and degraded if stenosis is present, thereby preventing the harmful effect of capsule retention during the main examination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a disposable patency capsule made of degradable materials that can be safely retained and degraded in the body if needed. This single-use capsule serves as a test object that sacrifices itself to prevent retention of the more complex and expensive capsule endoscopy device.
2Measurement precision
If contrast examination is used to screen for intestinal stenosis, then some patients can be identified, but the accuracy rate is poor leading to missed diagnoses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an indicator that changes color when the patency capsule is retained in the digestive tract due to stenosis. This color change provides a clear, visible signal that improves the accuracy of stenosis detection compared to conventional contrast examinations, thereby enhancing diagnosis reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by providing visual indication through color change when retention occurs. This feedback mechanism allows patients and clinicians to immediately know whether the capsule was retained or passed through, improving detection accuracy and enabling informed decisions about proceeding with capsule endoscopy.
3Measurement precision
If X-ray positioning is used to determine capsule position, then capsule retention can be detected, but harmful radiation is caused and the method is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/X-ray based detection system with a chemical/biological indicator system. The color-changing indicator provides visual feedback about capsule retention without requiring X-ray imaging, thereby eliminating radiation exposure while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service detection where the patient themselves can observe the color change of the indicator to determine whether retention has occurred. This eliminates the need for complex medical imaging equipment and radiation exposure, allowing patients to monitor their own status.
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 capsule effectively determines intestinal patency by changing urine color upon stenosis detection, reducing the risk of retention and allowing for safe, non-invasive assessment of capsule endoscopy feasibility without the need for X-ray imaging, ensuring the capsule breaks down to pass through stenoses and avoid prolonged retention discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
an indicator which can be absorbed by the body and enables the discharged urine to change color
Implementation Method 2
a supporting material which is soluble in digestive juices
Implementation Method 3
The outer membrane is a sealed soft capsule body made from a sustained-release enteric material, and the dissolution time of the outer membrane is greater than the normal emptying time of the human digestive tract
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a digestive tract patency capsule, comprising an outer membrane (2) and a supporting material (1) which is soluble in digestive juices. The outer membrane (2) is a sealed soft capsule body made from a sustained-release enteric material, and the dissolution time of the outer membrane (2) is greater than the normal emptying time of the human digestive tract. The cavity of the capsule body of the outer membrane (2) is provided with an indicator (5) which can be absorbed by the body and enables the discharged urine to change color. The supporting material (1) is provided in the cavity of the capsule body of the outer membrane (2) to support the outer membrane (2) in a capsule form. The digestive tract patency capsule can safely and effectively check the feasibility of performing a capsule endoscopic examination on a user. The digestive tract patency capsule can predict the feasibility of a capsule endoscopic examination and is taken before performing a capsule endoscopic examination on a patient, thus safely, simply and effectively providing a good basis for the determination of whether a capsule endoscopic examination should be performed for a clinician.