Apparatus for Clearing Surgical Endoscope Field of View in a Compressed Anatomy

An endoscope is an essential tool in minimally invasive medical procedures and surgery, allowing healthcare providers to survey and operate in internal body cavities and channels through small incisions. However, despite the advancement in technology, certain issues, such as clearing space within these cavities for visual or operational access without causing injury to the surrounding tissues, have remained a challenge. Current endoscope designs involve traditional rigid devices that could expose tissue to moving parts or sharp edges. The discomfort and potential risk of damage to delicate tissues pose significant difficulties in performing vital medical procedures, thereby underlining the urgency for an innovative alternative.

Technology Description

This technology is a dynamically adjustable sheath positioned at the end of an endoscope. It is designed to expand elastically for the purpose of clearing an area within a body cavity during a medical procedure and retract within an envelope of the endoscope when not required. The sheath, possibly an elastomeric sheath, provides sufficient mechanical strength to clear space for a camera or surgical tool while ensuring adequate pliability to prevent injury to surrounding soft tissues. Furthermore, it is securely coupled between sections of the coaxial shafts of an endoscope, which can move relative to one another to facilitate the deployment or retraction of the sheath. What differentiates this technology is its ability to expand and retract selectively devoid of exposed moving parts or sharp edges, eliminating potential risks associated with conventional endoscopic procedures. This design makes it possible to tension and relax opposing ends of the sheath, thereby allowing for its expansion and retraction. Effectively, it brings about safer, less invasive procedures, leading to minimized complications and an improved patient experience.