Self-Dilation Balloon Catheter for Esophageal Stricture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with esophageal or gastrointestinal strictures often require frequent endoscopic dilations, leading to multiple hospital visits, increased medical expenses, and risks associated with sedation, highlighting the need for a self-dilation tool that can be used remotely and safely without sedation.
Innovation Solution
A dilator device comprising a tube with a balloon that can be inflated to expand a body passage, equipped with a camera for real-time imaging and wireless data transmission, allowing patients to perform self-dilation from home while enabling remote clinician monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If endoscopic dilation is performed frequently in hospital, then stricture treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient burden and medical expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables patients to perform esophageal dilation at home using a self-dilation device with balloon catheter, eliminating the need for repeated hospital visits and professional endoscopic procedures. The device allows patients to independently inflate the balloon to dilate their own stricture, transforming a clinic-dependent treatment into a self-managed therapy.
2Reliability
If endoscopic dilation is performed frequently, then stricture treatment effectiveness is improved, but exposure to infectious pathogens increases
Solution Approach 1:
By enabling home-based self-dilation, the patent eliminates repeated exposure to hospital environments and potential nosocomial infections. Patients perform the procedure in their own homes using a disposable or sterilizable device, avoiding contact with infectious agents present in medical facilities.
3Ease of operation
If endoscopic dilation with sedation is performed, then patient comfort is improved, but risk of side effects and complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-dilation device allows patients to perform the procedure without sedation, eliminating the risks associated with sedative medications such as respiratory depression, allergic reactions, and prolonged recovery time. Patients maintain full consciousness and control during the dilation process.
4Reliability
If multiple hospital visits are required, then stricture treatment effectiveness is improved, but medical expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms a costly, resource-intensive hospital-based treatment into an affordable home-based solution. By eliminating the need for expensive endoscopic equipment, professional staff time, and facility costs, the self-dilation device dramatically reduces the economic burden on patients and the healthcare system while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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
Reduces hospital visits, minimizes exposure to infectious pathogens, eliminates the need for sedation, and facilitates efficient and recurrent self-dilation, improving treatment accessibility and reducing medical expenses while allowing remote clinical care.
Implementation Method 1
a balloon disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the balloon configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state
Data Source
AI summary
A dilator includes a tube including a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen therethrough. The proximal end includes a connector configured to connect to an inflation device. The dilator includes a balloon disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The balloon is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the device is insertable into a body passage of a subject in need thereof.