Temporary Endoscope Light Source for Channel-Free Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes face challenges in minimizing diameter while incorporating various channels, such as illumination, image sensing, and irrigation, which increases their size, necessitating innovative solutions to conserve space and enhance functionality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a temporary, standalone light source that can be delivered to the patient anatomy, eliminating the need for an illumination channel by using existing channels for other purposes, such as a laser fiber, and allowing for the light source to be independently delivered and retrieved, or attached to the endoscope, to provide illumination without increasing the endoscope's diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an illumination channel is incorporated into the endoscope to provide lighting during procedures, then the illumination quality and procedural visibility are improved, but the endoscope diameter increases and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is separated from the endoscope structure itself and implemented as a standalone light source that can be delivered separately through existing channels or independently to the target site, allowing the endoscope to remain thin while still providing illumination during procedures
Solution Approach 2:
Existing endoscope channels are made multi-functional by using them to deliver both therapeutic devices (such as laser fibers for lithotripsy) and illumination light sources to the same target location, eliminating the need for dedicated illumination channels
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple channels are incorporated into the endoscope to enhance functionality (illumination, image sensing, irrigation), then the procedural capabilities are improved, but the device complexity and diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope channels are designed to accommodate multiple different devices and functions interchangeably, allowing a single channel to serve illumination, imaging, irrigation, or therapeutic purposes depending on what is delivered through it, thereby reducing the total number of channels needed
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope system transitions from a static configuration with fixed channels to a dynamic system where channels can deliver different devices and functions as needed, with illumination and other functions being temporarily activated only when required during the procedure
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
This approach allows for effective illumination of the target area during procedures while maintaining a thin diameter endoscope, enabling procedures like laser lithotripsy without the need for additional channels, thus enhancing procedural visibility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light source may be delivered to a target location within a patient to illuminate a working area
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of methods, systems, and use cases may be used to deploy a light source to a targeted organ location via a working channel of an endoscope, such as in a manner that leaves the working channel free for use by another instrument and that can avoid requiring an additional channel, beyond the working channel, for illumination of a target region.