Bendable Endoscope Support Bracket for Stable Tube Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes lack sufficient axial support for the insertion tube, leading to difficulties during procedures such as inserting nasogastric tubes or Foley catheters due to bending and deformation.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope device with a tubular mechanism featuring a flexibly bendable support bracket securely disposed in the lumen, providing sufficient axial force through a support unit with crosspieces and fasteners to facilitate insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If only the structural integrity of a tubular sheath is used to provide axial support, then the device structure remains simple, but the axial support force is insufficient causing bending and deformation during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is nested within the tubular sheath, with the bracket's longitudinal axis coinciding with the sheath's central axis. The bracket extends along the length of the sheath and is positioned inside the lumen, creating a nested configuration where the simpler bracket structure is contained within the existing tubular sheath structure, thereby increasing axial support without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support system is segmented into distinct functional components: the tubular sheath providing structural containment and the separate support bracket providing axial support force. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the sheath for flexibility and protection, while the bracket specifically addresses the axial support deficiency
2Ease of operation
If the insertion tube lacks sufficient axial support, then the device remains flexible and easy to insert, but the insertion operation becomes troublesome due to bending and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is pre-positioned within the tubular sheath before the insertion procedure begins. The bracket is secured to the sheath at multiple locations along its length, establishing the axial support structure in advance. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the insertion tube is advanced through the sheath, the stabilizing support is already in place to prevent bending and deformation during the insertion operation
3Ease of operation
If a support bracket is added to provide axial support, then the axial support force is sufficient to facilitate insertion, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is designed with a flexible construction that allows it to be easily inserted into and removed from the tubular sheath. The bracket can bend and flex during insertion to navigate the sheath's curvature, then assumes its rigid support configuration once positioned, providing axial support without requiring a complex rigid framework that would be difficult to assemble
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
Enhances the insertion procedure by ensuring a stable and controlled insertion of medical tubes or catheters by providing adequate axial support.
Implementation Method 1
The support bracket is flexibly bendable and is controlled to be bent sideways so as to bend the elongated body and steer insertion of the distal end of the tubular wall into a patient's body cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope device includes a tubular mechanism and a control mechanism connected with the tubular mechanism. The tubular mechanism includes an elongated body, a camera lens unit mounted at a distal end of the elongated body, and a support unit including a support bracket securely disposed in a lumen of the elongated body and extending along a longitudinal axis. The support bracket is flexibly bendable and is controlled to be bent sideways so as to bend the elongated body and steer insertion of the distal end of the tubular wall into a body's cavity. A sufficient axial force is provided to the tubular mechanism during the insertion of a medical tube with the endoscope device so as to facilitate the insertion procedure of the tube.