Applicator for Endoscope Resilient Ring Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing applicators for fitting resilient rings, such as rubber rings or balloons, on endoscopes or medical instruments require complex operations and cannot facilitate a single-handed, efficient fitting process due to the need for multiple steps and additional mechanisms, which complicates the assembly and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An applicator with a movable sleeve and pivotally movable arm devices that expand radially to accommodate the ring device, allowing for a single-action fitting by shifting the sleeve relative to the support means, enabling the ring to be securely positioned around the rod device without separate expansion or sliding steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guide device with link mechanism is used to expand the rubber ring, then the ring device can be fitted around the elongated tube, but the operation becomes complicated requiring multiple steps and cannot be performed with single-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex link mechanism from the guide device, extracting only the essential function of expanding the rubber ring. The simplified guide device uses a direct expansion mechanism without intermediate linkages, enabling single-handed operation while maintaining the ability to fit the ring around the elongated tube.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a link mechanism to indirectly expand the rubber ring through multiple moving parts, the invention inverts the approach by using a direct expansion method where the guide device itself radially expands to directly enlarge the rubber ring opening, eliminating the need for complex transmission mechanisms.
2Reliability
If great force is applied to expand the rubber ring for secure clamping, then air-tightness is ensured, but the precise elongated tube cannot be handled roughly
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device serves as an intermediary between the operator's force and the rubber ring. It provides a controlled expansion mechanism that distributes force evenly across the ring, achieving the necessary clamping force for air-tightness while preventing concentrated forces that could damage the precise elongated tube.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device controls the expansion parameter of the rubber ring by providing a controlled radial enlargement. This regulated parameter change ensures sufficient expansion for secure clamping and air-tightness while maintaining control over the force applied, preventing damage to the precision instrument.
3Productivity
If a simple cylindrical guide device is used, then the structure is simple, but the operation requires three separate steps including expansion, movement to cylindrical surface, and fitting in recess
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple operation steps into a single integrated action. The guide device is designed so that expanding the rubber ring, moving it to the cylindrical surface, and fitting it into the recess occur simultaneously in one continuous motion, eliminating the need for separate steps and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide device is pre-configured with the elongated tube positioned within it before the rubber ring expansion. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the ring is expanded and moved, it is already in the correct position to be fitted onto the tube in one continuous action, eliminating the need for separate positioning steps.
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
Enables rapid and precise fitting of resilient rings around medical instruments, simplifying the process and improving efficiency by allowing a single-handed operation and eliminating the need for complex link mechanisms, thus enhancing the ease of use and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
at least three arm devices (12) for stretch, having a rear end portion (12a) secured to the support means (13) in a pivotally movable manner in a radial direction of the movable sleeve (14)
Implementation Method 2
A shift mechanism shifts the movable sleeve (14) relative to the support means (13), to move the arm devices (12) pivotally by engaging the movable sleeve (14) with the arm devices (12), to move the receiving portion (12c) from the closed state position to the open state position
Implementation Method 3
and advances the ring device from the receiving portion with an end surface of the movable sleeve
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An applicator for fitting a resilient rubber ring (22) around an elongated tube (20) of an endoscope includes a support device (11) having a through channel. A movable sleeve (14, 61, 84) is disposed through the through channel movably in forward and backward directions. Four arm devices (12, 46, 47, 63, 86) are arranged on a periphery of the movable sleeve, and kept pivotally movable on the movable sleeve between open and closed state positions. A receiving portion (12c, 46c, 63c, 86c) is disposed to extend from the arm device in the forward direction, for receiving the rubber ring outside. A shift mechanism (15, 50, 70, 82, 94) shifts the movable sleeve in the forward direction, and presses the arm devices with an end surface thereof to move pivotally from the closed state position to the open state position, so as to expand the rubber ring in a radial direction (A1) with the receiving portion. Finally, the rubber ring is advanced in the forward direction and set around the elongated tube.