Endoscope Assist Assembly Roller Offset Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assist assemblies for endoscopes often experience a drop in driving force due to offsetting of the circulation device, which can hinder the entry of the endoscope into tortuous body cavities.
Innovation Solution
An assist assembly with a deformable circulation device and rollers featuring a location offset prevention groove and projection system, where the projection is deformed to maintain contact and prevent offsetting, ensuring continuous driving force by tensioning the circulation device with the rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the circulation device moves endlessly in contact with the tissue wall to apply propulsion force, then the endoscope can be easily entered into tortuous body cavities, but the circulation device may offset on the rollers causing slip and drop in driving force
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation device is segmented with multiple projections extending axially, and the rollers are segmented with location offset prevention grooves at specific positions. This segmentation allows each projection to engage with corresponding grooves on different rollers, preventing cumulative offsetting while maintaining continuous propulsion force along the axial direction
Solution Approach 2:
The projection on the circulation device acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the circulation device and the rollers. By engaging the projection with the location offset prevention groove, it prevents direct circumferential offsetting while allowing the circulation device to maintain stable contact and transmit propulsion force effectively
2Force
If the circulation device constantly receives pressure from the tissue wall to maintain contact, then propulsion force is maintained, but the circulation device is likely to offset on the rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The location offset prevention groove is pre-formed at a specific depth L2 on the roller, and the projection on the circulation device is designed with height L1≥L2. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that when the circulation device receives pressure from the tissue wall, the projection automatically engages with the groove to prevent offsetting before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The design specifies a quantitative relationship between the projection height L1 and groove depth L2 where L1≥L2. This parameter change ensures that the projection can effectively engage with the groove to prevent offsetting while allowing the circulation device to maintain stable contact under pressure from the tissue wall
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
This design stabilizes the entry of the endoscope by maintaining high driving force and preventing offsetting, allowing for effective navigation through tortuous body cavities.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable circulation device and rollers featuring a location offset prevention groove and projection system, where the projection is deformed to maintain contact and prevent offsetting
Implementation Method 2
A drive mechanism tensions the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the projection in the location offset prevention groove and by pressing the inner surface of the circulation device on the rollers
Data Source
AI summary
An assist assembly for propulsion of a tip device of an endoscope in a body cavity includes an attachment sleeve and a support sleeve. A deformable circulation device is disposed to extend over inner and outer surfaces of the support sleeve, for endlessly moving in an axial direction of the tip device. Plural rollers are disposed on the support sleeve in a rotatable manner, for pressing an inner surface of the circulation device. An alignment projection is formed on the inner surface of the circulation device to project at a height L1. A location offset prevention groove is formed in the rollers at a depth L2, for receiving the alignment projection, and satisfying a condition L1≧L2, to prevent location offset of the circulation device from the rollers. Drive wheels tension the circulation device in cooperation with the rollers by deforming the alignment projection in the location offset prevention groove.