Removable Ultrasonic Endoscope Attachment for Clean ERCP Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes, particularly duodenoscopes, lack ultrasonic imaging capabilities, are difficult to clean and disinfect, and are not widely available due to high costs of echoendoscope systems.
Innovation Solution
Ultrasonic attachment assemblies, including an ultrasonic transducer and a clip or sleeve, are designed to be removably secured to the distal end of a duodenoscope, positioning the transducer lens to align with the elevator channel axis for enhanced imaging and ensuring easy cleaning and disinfection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an echoendoscope system is used to provide ultrasonic imaging capabilities, then the ability to visualize organs and structures is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the ultrasonic imaging system into separate modular components: a reusable ultrasonic transducer assembly and a disposable cap assembly. This segmentation allows the complex ultrasonic imaging capability to be provided through a relatively simple attachment that can be used with existing endoscopes, rather than requiring a completely integrated echoendoscope system.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic transducer assembly is designed to be compatible with multiple types of endoscopes through a universal attachment mechanism. The assembly can provide ultrasonic imaging capabilities across different endoscope platforms, reducing the need for specialized expensive echoendoscope systems while maintaining imaging precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a duodenoscope is used to access the bile duct for ERCP, then the ability to perform specialized procedures is improved, but the difficulty of cleaning and disinfection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the endoscope into a reusable portion and a disposable cap assembly. The disposable cap, which includes the ultrasonic transducer attachment, can be discarded after a single use, eliminating the need to clean and disinfect complex internal channels and mechanisms. This segmentation maintains the versatility of duodenoscopes for specialized procedures while solving the cleaning difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap assembly is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for complex cleaning and disinfection processes for the portions of the device that are most difficult to clean (the cap and elevator channel area), while the main reusable body of the endoscope can be easily disinfected.
3Measurement precision
If an ultrasonic transducer is attached to the distal end of an endoscope, then ultrasonic imaging capability is added, but the alignment with the elevator channel axis becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The cap assembly is designed with an asymmetric structure that includes an offset feature specifically configured to align the ultrasonic transducer with the elevator channel axis. This asymmetric design compensates for the offset between the optical axis and the elevator channel, ensuring proper alignment without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism includes self-aligning features that automatically position the ultrasonic transducer correctly when the cap is attached to the endoscope. The complementary shapes of the attachment interfaces and the offset geometry provide automatic alignment, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by the operator.
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 assemblies enable affordable conversion of traditional endoscopes to include ultrasonic imaging, improving visualization of organs and structures, while ensuring proper disinfection and disposability of components.
Implementation Method 1
The ultrasonic device generates high-frequency sound waves (e.g., ultrasonic waves) that can be directed towards an object of interest within the body of a patient
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasonic device can detect sound waves that are reflected by the object and use these reflected sound waves to create an ultrasonic image of the object
Data Source
AI summary
Various ultrasonic attachment assemblies for endoscopes are disclosed. In one aspect, the ultrasonic attachment assembly can include an ultrasonic transducer and a clip. The ultrasonic transducer includes a transducer lens and a transducer body, The clip is configured to be removably secured to a distal end of an endoscope and hold the transducer body such that the transducer lens is positioned distally with respect to the distal end of the endoscope. In another aspect, the ultrasonic attachment assembly can include an ultrasonic transducer and a sleeve. The ultrasonic transducer includes a transducer lens and a transducer body. The sleeve is configured to be positioned on a distal end of an endoscope and hold the transducer body such that the transducer lens is positioned distally with respect to the distal end of the endoscope.