Robotic Intestinal Tissue Treatment for Tortuous GI Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices face challenges in advancing, retracting, rotating, and manipulating within the tortuous pathways of the gastrointestinal tract due to its complex anatomy, necessitating enhanced performance for effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system comprising an elongate device with a functional assembly and a console that can manipulate the device's portions and assembly robotically, equipped with sensors and a controller to enhance maneuverability and precision in treating and diagnosing gastrointestinal tissue, including features like tissue expansion and ablation, with advanced sensor feedback and automated navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional medical devices are used in the gastrointestinal tract, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot navigate tortuous pathways effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple segments including an elongate catheter, functional assemblies, and control components that can independently move and adapt to the tortuous geometry of the gastrointestinal tract, enabling navigation through complex anatomical pathways while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic components such as flexible catheters that can bend and conform to the gastrointestinal tract's shape, along with robotically controlled functional assemblies that can be positioned and manipulated dynamically to navigate tortuous pathways effectively
2Measurement precision
If manual manipulation of the device is used, then the device can be controlled, but precision and accuracy in treatment are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that provide real-time feedback on device position, tissue characteristics, and treatment parameters, allowing the robotic control system to adjust and optimize treatment precision by continuously monitoring and responding to procedural conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical manipulation is replaced with a robotic control system that uses automated actuators, sensors, and control algorithms to precisely position and manipulate the functional assembly, thereby achieving higher treatment precision and accuracy than manual control alone
3Adaptability or versatility
If more functional assemblies are added to treat multiple conditions, then the device versatility increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates multiple functional assemblies within a single integrated system, where each assembly can perform different therapeutic functions (e.g., ablation, expansion, tissue treatment) at various locations along the gastrointestinal tract, providing multi-condition treatment capability while maintaining a unified device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Functional assemblies are nested within the elongate catheter structure, with each assembly capable of independent deployment and operation. This nested configuration allows multiple treatment functions to be integrated in a compact manner, increasing versatility without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
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 system provides enhanced maneuverability and precision in navigating the gastrointestinal tract, enabling accurate treatment and diagnosis with reduced human intervention, improving the efficacy of therapeutic procedures for conditions like diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Implementation Method 1
The console is configured to robotically manipulate one or more of: the elongate device proximal portion; the elongate device middle portion; the elongate device distal portion; and/or the elongate device functional assembly
Implementation Method 2
The system can comprise at least one sensor, and the at least one sensor provides information regarding the procedure state
Implementation Method 3
The robotic manipulation can include a robotic manipulation of the functional assembly comprising: translation of the functional assembly; delivery of a tissue expansion fluid by the functional assembly
Implementation Method 4
an ablation of tissue by the functional assembly
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are systems for performing a medical procedure in the intestine of a patient. The system comprises an elongate device and a console. The elongate device comprises a proximal portion, a middle portion, and a distal portion. The elongate device further comprises a functional assembly positioned on the distal portion, the functional assembly being configured to treat and/or diagnose target tissue. The console comprises a human interface device and a controller. The console is configured to robotically manipulate one or more portions of the elongate device, and/or the functional assembly.