Endoscope Bending Portion Using a Biased Elastic Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes with thin flexible insertion tubes face insufficient interior space for complex bending portion designs, particularly in metal or plastic articulated structures, limiting their functionality and size.
Innovation Solution
Replace at least one pull rope with a biased elastic element, such as a bent rod or spiral spring, which provides predefined bends and guides the bending portion, eliminating the need for additional space typically required by pull ropes and eyelets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a thin bending portion is used to reduce endoscope diameter, then the endoscope can examine small openings, but the bending portion has insufficient interior space for complex construction designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the biasing function from the traditional pull rope-eyelet system and assigns it to a separate biased elastic element. This allows the pull rope to be shortened and the eyelets to be removed or simplified, thereby reducing the interior space requirement of the bending portion while maintaining the necessary bending control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The biased elastic element acts as an intermediary component that provides the necessary restoring force for bending control. By introducing this separate elastic element, the patent eliminates the need for complex eyelet mechanisms and long pull ropes, thus reducing the interior space occupation in the bending portion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pull ropes and eyelets are used to control bending, then bending functionality is achieved, but the bending portion requires more interior space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the biasing function from the pull rope system and assigns it to a separate biased elastic element. This allows the pull rope to be shortened and the eyelets to be removed or simplified, thereby reducing the interior space requirement of the bending portion while maintaining the necessary bending control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The biased elastic element provides the restoring force automatically without requiring additional mechanical structures. The elastic element self-generates the necessary force through its elastic properties, eliminating the need for complex eyelet mechanisms and multiple pull ropes, thus reducing interior space requirements.
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 allows for a thinner endoscope construction with enhanced functionality, enabling examination of small cavities by providing sufficient interior space and maintaining flexibility and stiffness without the need for additional components like eyelets.
Implementation Method 1
In the longitudinal direction of the bending portion, a biased elastic element is arranged in parallel to the pull rope
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an endoscope including a flexible insertion tube and a bending portion controllable from a proximal side and being distally connected to the insertion tube, wherein in the bending portion a pull rope runs for a pivoting movement of the bending portion, the pull rope being anchored to the distal end of the bending portion, and wherein a biased elastic element is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bending portion in parallel to the pull rope.