A Biopsy Cap with Helical Brushes for Endoscopes
This patent describes a specialized cap for endoscopes that uses brushes arranged in a spiral pattern to collect tissue samples during medical procedures.
Original patent title: “Biopsy cap for use with endoscope”
This patent describes a specialized cap for endoscopes that uses brushes arranged in a spiral pattern to collect tissue samples during medical procedures. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details an endoscope assembly that includes an endoscope with an internal channel and a port to access it. A cap attaches to this port. This cap has a base that secures it to the endoscope and an outer shell. Inside the cap, there is a brush section, which contains multiple brushes arranged in a helical, or spiral, fashion. This design allows for the collection of biopsy samples through the endoscope's channel, for example, by rotating the cap or moving it along the tissue to efficiently gather cells or small tissue fragments.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover biopsy caps that use different mechanisms for sample collection, such as suction or cutting blades, without brushes.
- Does not cover biopsy caps where the brushes are arranged in a non-helical pattern, such as straight lines or random configurations.
- Does not cover endoscopes or biopsy methods that do not involve a cap coupled to a port with an internal brush section.
- Does not cover general endoscope components or biopsy tools that are not specifically a cap designed with helical brushes.
- Does not cover methods of biopsy where the sample is collected directly by the endoscope itself without a separate cap attachment.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The novel aspect is arranging the multiple brushes within the cap in a helical fashion. This spiral arrangement likely improves the ability to sweep and collect tissue samples more thoroughly or from a wider area compared to other brush configurations.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures
Bronchoscopy for lung tissue sampling
Colonoscopy for detecting polyps
Medical devices for tissue collection during minimally invasive surgery
Flexible endoscopes used in various medical fields
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Biopsies are crucial for diagnosing many diseases, including cancers, by examining tissue samples. This type of specialized biopsy cap aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sample collection during endoscopic procedures. Better sample collection can lead to more accurate diagnoses and earlier treatment for patients.
Filed
November 14, 2023
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major medical device companies like Olympus, Karl Storz, and Fujifilm are continuously innovating in the endoscopy space, developing new tools and accessories for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Startups focusing on minimally invasive surgery and enhanced diagnostic capabilities also contribute to this field, often seeking to improve sample collection and analysis.
Market impact
Improvements in biopsy tools directly impact the accuracy and speed of disease diagnosis, particularly for conditions requiring tissue analysis. Devices like this cap can enhance the capabilities of existing endoscopes, potentially leading to more reliable sample acquisition and reducing the need for repeat procedures. This drives demand for advanced endoscopic accessories in the global healthcare market.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details an endoscope assembly that includes an endoscope with an internal channel and a port to access it. A cap attaches to this port. This cap has a base that secures it to the endoscope and an outer shell. Inside the cap, there is a brush section, which contains multiple brushes arranged in a helical, or spiral, fashion. This design allows for the collection of biopsy samples through the endoscope's channel, for example, by rotating the cap or moving it along the tissue to efficiently gather cells or small tissue fragments.
The clever bit
The novel aspect is arranging the multiple brushes within the cap in a helical fashion. This spiral arrangement likely improves the ability to sweep and collect tissue samples more thoroughly or from a wider area compared to other brush configurations.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover biopsy caps that use different mechanisms for sample collection, such as suction or cutting blades, without brushes.
- Does not cover biopsy caps where the brushes are arranged in a non-helical pattern, such as straight lines or random configurations.
- Does not cover endoscopes or biopsy methods that do not involve a cap coupled to a port with an internal brush section.
- Does not cover general endoscope components or biopsy tools that are not specifically a cap designed with helical brushes.
- Does not cover methods of biopsy where the sample is collected directly by the endoscope itself without a separate cap attachment.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 17.1 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). A Biopsy Cap with Helical Brushes for Endoscopes (U.S. Patent No. 12,733,796). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733796/biopsy-cap-for-use-with-endoscope
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Biopsy Cap with Helical Brushes for Endoscopes cover?
This patent describes a specialized cap for endoscopes that uses brushes arranged in a spiral pattern to collect tissue samples during medical procedures.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Biopsies are crucial for diagnosing many diseases, including cancers, by examining tissue samples. This type of specialized biopsy cap aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sample collection during endoscopic procedures. Better sample collection can lead to more accurate diagnoses and earlier treatment for patients.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover biopsy caps that use different mechanisms for sample collection, such as suction or cutting blades, without brushes.
Patent monitoring