WO2024246389A1 - Rectoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a rectoscope (1) formed by a body (3), a handle (2) and a head (4), connected together, wherein the body (3) is elongate and hollow, so as to contain an interior channel (6) that passes therethrough longitudinally, and is connected to the handle (2) by means of an enlarged area (5) including a nozzle (9). According to the invention, the body (3) is curved in an intermediate area and comprises a plurality of conduits (7), parallel to the interior channel (6), which extend through the body (3) and lead to the enlarged area (5), the conduits being interconnected, and to respective holes (8) at the opposite end, wherein the interior channel (6) contains a video camera and a light source, such that the rectoscope (1) is designed to pump air towards the conduits (7) and to transmit images to a receiver.

Description

RECTOSCOPY

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rectoscope composed of a handle and a body that has a curved configuration for better anatomical adaptation and, in addition, is longitudinally hollow for housing a video camera to take images of the anorectal cavity and can be transmitted to an electronic device by means of a cable or wirelessly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the current state of the art, after colorectal surgery, the integrity of rectal anastomoses is checked using indirect verification mechanisms, using air insufflation tests and/or Betadine.

For direct visualization of the anastomosis, a colonoscope is required. However, when a thorough examination of the intestine is not required, but only of the rectal area, the use of a rectoscope is preferable to a colonoscope due to its ease of access and availability. For this reason, in the state of the art there are rectoscopes that incorporate adequate lighting to carry out this activity.

Document ES-2639867 discloses a rectoscope intended to be introduced into the anorectal cavity of an individual for diagnostic and/or surgical purposes. The rectoscope incorporates a gradually movable radial light source that creates a radial beam of light in order to illuminate both the tubular body of the rectoscope and the portion of the rectum into which it is inserted. In this way, it allows, firstly, a precise observation of the interior of said cavity. Secondly, it also allows, in the event of detecting a foreign body such as a tumor to be surgically removed, a precise determination of the distal section margin to minimize the rectal portion removed. US20100280368A1 relates to a trocar tube, obturator, rectoscope for transluminal endoscopic surgery through natural body openings which is provided with a distal section for placement at least in the area or outside the body opening and a proximal section for placement within the human or animal, where at least the proximal section has a substantially stable dimension or bending-resistant curvature. Furthermore, an obturator adapted for this purpose and a rectoscope adapted for this purpose are provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a rectoscope that incorporates a light source and a high-resolution, sterilizable camera, which transmits images in real time, either via cable or wirelessly, to an electronic device such as a smartphone, tablet or computer. This allows visualization of the anastomosis up to a depth of fifteen centimeters from the anal margin thanks to its anatomical curvature. This visualization allows the integrity of the anastomosis to be checked directly and, in addition, to diagnose anastomotic leaks during the postoperative period in the hospital ward, without the need for sedation, in patients with high clinical-analytical suspicion, being able to anticipate future major dehiscence complications.

On the other hand, the rectoscope of the invention allows, in addition to the visualization of the anastomoses, that of other intraluminal lesions located up to a depth of 15 cm in the anorectal canal for their diagnosis or treatment, intraoperatively and/or outpatiently.

For this purpose, the rectoscope of the invention preferably has a total length of between 270mm and 290mm, and more preferably 279.74mm. On the other hand, the diameter of the body (3) is preferably between 15mm and 25mm, and more preferably 20.5mm. On the other hand, preferably the handle has a length of between 80mm and 90mm and a diameter of between 10mm and 20mm, and more preferably 86mm and 16mm respectively, while the body (3) preferably has a total length of between 215mm and 230mm, and more preferably 223.7mm. The curvature is preferably between 20 and 30 degrees, and more preferably 23 degrees, being located in an intermediate zone that preferably begins between 70mm and 90mm from the handle, and more preferably 80mm from the handle, with a length preferably between 50mm and 60mm and a radius of curvature between 130mm and 150mm, and more preferably 54.6mm and 139.75mm respectively. For its part, in the body (3), the inner channel (6) has a diameter preferably between 8mm and 10mm, and more preferably 9mm, while the ducts (7) have a diameter preferably between 1mm and 3mm, and more preferably 2mm. Finally, the nozzle (9) has a diameter preferably between 2mm and 4mm, and more preferably 3mm.

In this way, the invention not only allows the visualization of anastomoses up to 15 cm with real-time image transmission via Wi-Fi, but also allows double intraoperative checking (air and visual), as well as controls of the anastomoses and postoperative anastomotic leaks in the hospital ward and/or consultation.

In summary, the present invention describes a rectoscope made up of a body, a handle and a head, solidly joined together. The body is hollow and elongated and has the following shape:

- a proximal end for attachment to the handle by means of an extended area incorporating a nozzle,

- a distal end for attachment to the head, and

- an internal channel that runs longitudinally through the body

Furthermore, the body comprises a curved configuration and a plurality of ducts passing through the body.

This curved configuration is not located at the distal end to facilitate access to the anorectal cavity, but in an intermediate zone, so that the distal zone, like the proximal zone, are straight. This configuration allows for greater access to the anorectal cavity in an ergonomic way.

On the one hand, the ducts are parallel to the internal canal. In addition, in the proximal area, they flow into the extended area, remaining connected to each other, while, in the distal area, they flow into separate orifices.

On the other hand, the inner channel is intended to house a video camera and a lighting source, preferably the digital camera and the lighting source being LEDs. In this way, the rectoscope is configured, in addition to being able to be ergonomically introduced to a greater depth, to pump air towards the ducts, this direction being able to be in both directions, to introduce and to extract air, and also to transmit images to a receiving device, preferably wirelessly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, the figures listed below are introduced in this report.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the rectoscope of the invention.

Figure 2 represents a sectional elevation view of the rectoscope of Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a sectional plan view of the rectoscope of Figure 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A first characteristic is that the rectoscope (1) has a curved body (3). This allows it to adapt to the anatomical curvature of the rectum, achieving not only greater tolerability by the patient, but also allowing vision to be achieved over a larger section of the large intestine.

Furthermore, this curved configuration makes it especially ergonomic by incorporating an operating handle.

The rectoscope (1) is made up of an elongated hollow body (3) that forms a proximal end, a distal end and an internal channel (6) that passes through it completely.

At the proximal end the body (3) is connected to a handle (2) by means of an extended area (5) which, in addition to acting as a stop for the insertion of the rectoscope (1), has other functionality as described below.

At the distal end there is a head (4) which, in addition to presenting a reduction in the diameter of the body (3), intended to facilitate insertion, also has a series of holes (8) for a functionality that will also be described later.

The internal channel (6) is intended to house a digital video camera, with LED lighting, in order to provide a digital view of the interior of the large intestine. The camera is located at the end of the internal channel (6), without protruding from the head (4). The digital camera is any of those known in the state of the art and can transmit the images to a screen or receiving device by cable or wirelessly, such as by Wi-Fi, as available. The activation of the camera and the LED lighting is by means of a power source that can be attached to the camera itself or by wiring to the outside of the rectoscope (1).

Likewise, the rectoscope (1) is compatible with a semi-rigid bronchoscope that adapts to the diameter of the internal channel (6), providing visual capacity and an additional working channel.

A second characteristic of the rectoscope (1) of the invention is that it has the capacity to be able to inflate air. For this purpose, it incorporates four conduits (7), parallel to the internal channel (6) which, at the distal end, end in two holes (8) located in the head (4) and, at the proximal end, have an opening in the extended area (5), so that they remain in communication and converge in a nozzle (9) perpendicular to the axis of the internal channel at this proximal end.

This nozzle (9) is intended for the connection of both an air insufflation pump, either manual or continuous, and a vacuum pump, to remove the air insufflated after the examination.

The fact that the insufflation/aspiration ducts (7) are independent and are distributed in four quadrants has the objective of being able to achieve an equal and more effective action since, in case of obstruction by biological liquids, the intraluminal pressure losses are minimized. The material of the rectoscope (1) is preferably a transparent medical resin that allows better illumination of the work area.

In the preferred embodiment, the rectoscope (1) has a total length of 279.74 mm, with the diameter of the body (3) being 20.5 mm. The handle is 86 mm long and 16 mm in diameter, while the body (3) has a total length of 223.7 mm, with a curvature of 23 degrees that starts in an intermediate area, 80 mm from the handle, 54.6 mm long and 139.75 mm radius of curvature. On the other hand, in the body (3), the inner channel (6) has a diameter of 9 mm, while the ducts (7) have a diameter of 2 mm. Finally, the nozzle (9) has a diameter of 3 mm.

Claims

1. Rectoscope formed by a body (3), a handle (2) and a head (4), firmly joined together, where the body (3) is hollow and elongated in configuration that forms a proximal end for joining the handle (2) by means of an extended area (5) that incorporates a nozzle (9), a distal end for joining the head (4), and an inner channel (6) that runs longitudinally through the body (3), characterized in that the body (3) comprises: - a curved configuration located in an intermediate zone, and - a plurality of ducts (7) passing through the body (3), where: - the ducts (7): - are parallel to the inner channel (6), - through the proximal area, they flow into the extended area (5), remaining connected to each other, and - in the distal area, they end in two holes (8), and - the inner channel (6) is intended to accommodate a video camera and a lighting source, so that the rectoscope (1) is configured to: - economically introduce greater depth, - pump air towards the ducts (7), and - transmit images to a receiving device. 2. The rectoscope of claim 1, wherein the pumping of air is in both directions, to introduce and to extract air. 3. The rectoscope of claim 1, wherein the video camera is digital and the lighting source is LEDs. 4. The rectoscope of claim 1, wherein the transmission of images from the video camera is wireless.