Polymeric Endoscopic Elevator With Surface Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic systems with rigid elevators and v-shaped grooves often damage wire guides and catheters due to tearing, scraping, or stripping, and struggle to maintain precise control and fluid flow during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric endoscopic elevator with a grasping slot and surface projections is designed to securely engage medical devices, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing control, while a grasping cover with an open lip and surface projections further stabilizes the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid elevator with a v-shaped groove is used to lock and orient the wire guide, then the wire guide can be securely positioned, but the wire guide may be torn, scraped, or stripped due to the rigid structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the elevator from rigid to soft/compliant material. This allows the elevator to maintain secure engagement with the wire guide while adapting to the wire guide's surface, eliminating tearing, scraping, and stripping caused by rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction where the elevator is made of soft material that can be combined with other materials to achieve both compliance for preventing damage and sufficient structural integrity for maintaining positioning stability during the procedure.
2Reliability
If a rigid, flat-edged elevator is used to lock the distal end of the instrument, then the instrument can be secured, but the instrument may suffer from tearing, scraping, stripping or other undesirable effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the elevator from rigid to soft/compliant material. This allows the elevator to maintain secure engagement with the instrument while adapting to the instrument's surface, eliminating tearing, scraping, and stripping caused by rigid structures.
3Ease of operation
If the elevator compresses elongate devices such as catheters to maintain firm grasp, then control is improved, but fluid flow through the catheter may be prevented or impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the elevator to soft/compliant material with appropriate durometer. This allows the elevator to apply gentle, distributed pressure that maintains firm grasp and control of the catheter without excessive compression that would collapse the catheter lumen and impede fluid flow.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic elevator apparatus cooperable with an insertion tube extending to a distal tip and having enhanced grasping and reduced scraping of an elongate medical device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an elevator movably attached to the distal tip. The elevator has an inner side formed thereon defining a grasping slot for engagement with the endoscope. The elevator has a surface projection disposed thereon for inhibiting damage to the elongate medical device.