Intestine Pleating Endoscope Structures for Looping Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During gastrointestinal endoscopy, the torturous path of the colon and unpredictable fixation points lead to looping issues, causing patient discomfort and potential perforation, and the use of insufflation gas for visualization is associated with abdominal discomfort and increased recovery time.
Innovation Solution
The use of intestine pleating attachable structures with flexible appendages that can be coupled to the endoscope, allowing for improved contact with the intestinal wall without insufflation, reducing looping and enhancing visualization by moving the intestinal wall relative to the imaging system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If insufflation gas is pumped into the patient's lower GI tract to expand and distend the collapsed tubular tissues, then visualization is improved and tissue contact with the endoscope is reduced, but abdominal discomfort is induced and recovery time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the insufflation gas component from the system by using a flat-faced endoscope design that does not require gas insufflation for visualization. The endoscope directly contacts the intestinal wall to provide imaging, eliminating the harmful effects of gas accumulation while maintaining visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (gas insufflation) with a direct mechanical contact system where the flat-faced endoscope touches the intestinal wall for visualization. This substitution eliminates the need for CO2 tanks, gas control systems, and associated infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If the steerable tip of the endoscope is deflected to enter a new region of the colon, then navigation through torturous paths is enabled, but the force applied by the physician causes yielding or displacement of the colon wall leading to looping
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of deflecting the tip and pushing forward (conventional approach), the patent employs a pull-back mechanism where the endoscope is retracted to create pleats in the intestinal wall. This inversion of the force application direction prevents looping while maintaining navigation capability through torturous paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter from push-based navigation to pull-based navigation. By retracting the endoscope rather than pushing it forward, the system alters the force vector and prevents colon wall displacement and looping while still enabling navigation through bends.
3Length of moving object
If the endoscope is pushed forward to advance deeper into the colon, then deeper regions become accessible, but looping increases causing patient discomfort and potential perforation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the advancement mechanism by using a pull-back action instead of pushing forward. The endoscope is retracted to create pleats, which allows deeper access to the colon without the looping problems associated with forward pushing, thereby improving patient safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary pleating of the intestinal wall by retracting the endoscope before advancing deeper. This preliminary action creates folds in the tissue that facilitate subsequent advancement without causing looping, enabling deeper access while maintaining safety.
4Illumination intensity
If flexible appendages extend outwardly to contact the intestinal wall, then visualization is improved by moving the wall relative to the imaging system, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flexible appendages with the endoscope shaft, making them integral components rather than separate attachments. This integration simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the visualization benefit of wall contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible appendages made of thin, compliant material that can naturally conform to and contact the intestinal wall. This flexible design achieves visualization improvement without requiring complex mechanical structures or actuation systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are intestine pleating attachable structures for use with endoscopes and methods for using said structures. The intestine pleating attachable structures may act in conjunction with a gastrointestinal endoscope and, optionally, a balloon to improve visualization during endoscopic procedures. The intestine pleating attachable structures are coupled to the endoscope shaft, and include at least one flexible appendage to enhance contact between the structure and the intestinal wall. When the endoscope is retracted, the flexible appendage assists in moving the intestinal wall relative to the imaging system. This movement causes the intestine to pleat. Pleating reduces looping, improves efficiency, and results in a less painful endoscopic procedure for the patient. The attachable structures may be used in conjunction with a dome-shaped balloon that is inflated at the distal, imaging end of the endoscope. The balloon is transparent, such that the intestinal wall may still be visualized through the balloon while intestinal matter is prevented from obscuring the image.