Single Sheath Endoscope with Integrated Outflow Conduit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing continuous flow irrigation endoscopes face challenges in efficiently evacuating detached tissue pieces and waste fluid without requiring repeated removal of the endoscope, which increases surgical time and risk of complications, and are often cumbersome due to separate sheaths and additional outflow channels.
Innovation Solution
A continuous flow irrigation endoscope system utilizing a single outflow port connected to a single outflow channel, where the endoscopic instrument also functions as the outflow conduit, eliminating the need for separate sheaths and feedback mechanisms, ensuring efficient evacuation of waste fluid and tissue without increasing the endoscope's weight or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate inner and outer sheaths with multiple outflow ports are used, then waste fluid evacuation is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the inner and outer sheaths into a single integrated sheath structure, and merges the waste fluid evacuation function with the tissue resection function by using the same lumen for both purposes. This eliminates the need for separate outflow ports and channels, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining evacuation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The single sheath is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the resection instrument conduit and the waste fluid evacuation pathway. The lumen universally handles both tissue removal and fluid drainage, eliminating the need for specialized separate channels.
2Reliability
If repeated endoscope removal is performed to evacuate large tissue pieces, then tissue evacuation is achieved, but surgical time increases and complication risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible, expandable basket mechanism that can dynamically adjust its configuration. The basket can be collapsed to pass through the sheath lumen and expanded at the distal end to capture and evacuate large tissue pieces continuously, eliminating the need for repeated endoscope removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flow irrigation system maintains constant fluid flow through the sheath lumen, enabling uninterrupted evacuation of waste fluid and tissue pieces throughout the surgical procedure, thereby reducing surgical time and maintaining continuous operational capability.
3Strength
If inner sheath occupies additional space, then structural integrity is maintained, but effective lumen diameter is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inner sheath from the dual-sheath configuration, leaving only a single outer sheath structure. This eliminates the space occupation problem caused by the inner sheath while maintaining the necessary structural integrity through the single sheath's design.
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
Enables continuous and efficient evacuation of detached tissue pieces and waste fluid during endoscopic procedures without withdrawing the endoscope, reducing surgical time and complications, while maintaining a lightweight and user-friendly design.
Implementation Method 1
The irrigation fluid is instilled via an inflow port... fluid simultaneously enters and escapes from a tissue cavity via separate entry and exit points, as a result of which positive fluid pressure is created inside the tissue cavity
Implementation Method 2
The proximal open end of the hollow cylindrical tube functions as an outflow port for the evacuation of detached tissue pieces and waste fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A user friendly, safe and efficient continuous flow irrigation endoscope having only a single housing sheath without an inner sheath. The exclusion of the inner sheath increases the effective lumen of the endoscope. A long hollow cylindrical tube, capable of performing a to and fro and rotary motion, is placed inside the housing sheath to function as an endoscopic instrument, but also to serve as a conduit for evacuating waste fluid and detached tissue pieces present inside a tissue cavity. A single inflow port located at the proximal end of the single housing sheath allows the irrigation fluid to enter the tissue cavity via the lumen of the said housing sheath. The invented endoscope system has a single inflow port, a single outflow port, without an inner sheath so that all waste fluid and tissue debris present inside cavity are evacuated via the same single outflow port. No type of feedback mechanism, such as mechanical or electrical feedback mechanism, is incorporated in the endoscope to facilitate the removal of detached tissue pieces or waste fluid.