Steerable Medical Device Brake Shoe for Low-Force Knob Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steerable medical devices, such as catheters and endoscopes, face issues with user fatigue due to high force requirements for activating braking mechanisms and excessive internal components that increase production costs and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with a braking mechanism that includes a control knob, a braking knob, and a brake shoe member, featuring protrusions and arms that engage radially to apply frictional force, limiting rotation and reducing the need for manual force, while minimizing internal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional braking mechanism with multiple internal components is used, then the braking function is achieved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary internal components from the braking mechanism, retaining only the essential elements (brake shoe member with arms, protrusions, and friction surfaces) needed to achieve the braking function. This reduction in components directly addresses the contradiction by maintaining reliability while decreasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple braking functions into a single integrated brake shoe member structure. The brake shoe member integrates friction surfaces, arms, and protrusions into one component that performs all necessary braking actions, thereby reducing the total number of parts and simplifying the overall mechanism.
2Reliability
If a conventional braking mechanism with excessive internal components is used, then the braking function is achieved, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing superfluous components from the braking mechanism, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be assembled. This extraction of unnecessary elements directly decreases assembly time while preserving the essential braking functionality through the simplified brake shoe member design.
3Reliability
If a braking mechanism requiring high force to activate is used, then the braking function is achieved, but user fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a radial dimension to the braking mechanism through the brake shoe member's arms that move radially outward when protrusions engage. This dimensional change allows the braking force to be applied more efficiently through lever arms and friction surfaces, reducing the axial force the user must apply to the control knob.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake shoe member acts as an intermediary between the user's input on the control knob and the braking action on the drive member. The arms and friction surfaces of the brake shoe member mediate the force transmission, allowing small user inputs to generate sufficient braking force through mechanical advantage and friction.
4Ease of manufacture
If a simplified braking mechanism with fewer components is used, then the production cost decreases, but the braking reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully extracts only the non-essential components from the braking mechanism, retaining the critical elements needed for reliable braking. The brake shoe member with its arms, protrusions, and friction surfaces constitutes the minimum necessary configuration to achieve dependable braking while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
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
The system reduces user fatigue and lowers production costs by simplifying assembly, enhancing control over the deflection of medical devices, and improving operational efficiency during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The first arm may be configured to move away from the wall of the control knob when the braking knob is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system for a medical device may include a first drive member having a central longitudinal axis; a central shaft extending through the first drive member; a control knob coupled to the first drive member; a braking knob coupled to the central shaft and including a first protrusion; and a brake shoe member coupled to the central shaft between the control knob and the braking knob. The first protrusion may be positioned within a first channel of the brake shoe member; the first protrusion may be configured to engage the brake shoe member to move a first arm of the brake shoe member radially outward towards a wall of the control knob when the braking knob is rotated in a first direction; and the first arm may be configured to move away from the wall when the braking knob is rotated in a second direction.