Pivotable Endoscope Arms for Transgastric Working Triangle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Transgastric and transluminal endoscopic surgery faces challenges in creating a working triangle due to limited angles of approach, increased complexity, and prolonged surgery duration with existing endoscopic tools, which hinder efficient minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic surgery apparatus with a tubular member and pivotable arms connected by hinges, allowing for articulation and interchangeable configurations to form a working triangle, facilitate tissue manipulation, and provide optical, illumination, and fluid delivery channels, enabling easier insertion and effective surgical tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional endoscopic tools are inserted through a single location (mouth), then patient trauma is minimized, but the ability to create a working triangle and exert force in multiple directions is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into multiple independent flexible branches (at least two), each capable of being steered separately. This segmentation allows each branch to approach the surgical site from different angles while still being inserted through the same oral location, thereby maintaining minimal patient trauma while restoring the ability to create a working triangle for effective surgical manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single linear insertion path to a multi-dimensional approach by having multiple flexible branches that can be steered independently in different spatial directions. This dimensional expansion allows tools to reach the surgical site from multiple angles through a single insertion point, resolving the contradiction between minimal invasion and surgical versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple flexible branches are used to approach surgical site from different angles, then working triangle is created, but the difficulty and duration of surgery increases due to separate steering and manipulation of each branch
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple flexible branches are merged into a single integrated endoscope assembly that can be inserted through one location. The branches share common control mechanisms and are coordinated to work together, reducing the operational complexity compared to managing completely separate devices. This merging maintains the multi-angle approach capability while improving ease of operation through unified control.
3Ease of manufacture
If tools are inserted parallel to one another through the same location, then insertion is simplified, but the ability to perform surgical tasks requiring multiple force directions is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope employs dynamically flexible branches that can change their configuration and orientation in real-time during the procedure. The branches are designed to be flexible and steerable, allowing them to transition from a parallel insertion state to divergent positioning at the surgical site. This dynamic adaptability enables both simple insertion and effective multi-directional surgical manipulation.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic surgery apparatus is provided, including a tubular member, a handle located on a proximal end of the tubular member, and one or more pivotable arms detachably connected to a distal end of the tubular member. The tubular member has channels along its longitudinal axis, wherein at least one of the channels is an optical channel and at least one other channel is an illumination channel. The arms have guiding channels adapted to receive surgical tools, which direct the surgical tools. The arms are interchangeable with other arms of different configurations. Also, said arms have an open and a closed position, such that when the arms are in the closed position an opening is defined allowing viewing of a surgical site via the optical channel.