Endoscope Push Button Mechanism for Low-Force Responsive Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push button devices for endoscopes lack responsiveness and require significant force for operation, leading to inefficient switching operations.
Innovation Solution
A push button mechanism with a finger placement member, first and second stems, and a switch unit that allows for sliding and swinging motions, enabling actuation with minimal force and improved responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional push button device is used, then the structure is simple, but the responsiveness and sensitivity are poor, especially when activated in side or oblique directions
Solution Approach 1:
The push button device is segmented into multiple functional components: a finger placement member with elastic deformation capability, a connection member with bottomed tubular shape, a first stem that tilts and swings, a second stem that moves in conjunction with the first stem, and an immobile member holding both stems. This segmentation allows each component to contribute specifically to improving responsiveness and sensitivity while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements including the elastic deformation of the finger placement member, the tilting and swinging motion of the first stem along its longitudinal axis, and the coordinated movement of the second stem. These dynamic characteristics enable the device to respond sensitively to pushing forces from various directions, significantly improving responsiveness and sensitivity compared to static conventional designs.
2Ease of operation
If the push button device is made more sensitive and responsive, then the activation becomes easier, but the size of the operation portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes parameter changes in the elastic properties of the finger placement member and the geometric parameters of the stems to optimize the relationship between pushing force and activation sensitivity. By carefully selecting the elasticity parameters and dimensional parameters of the components, the device achieves high sensitivity with reduced pushing force while maintaining a compact operation portion size.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection member has a bottomed tubular shape that accommodates the stems, and the first and second stems are nested within the immobile member. This nested arrangement allows the components to be compactly integrated, achieving improved ease of operation without significantly increasing the overall volume of the operation portion.
3Ease of operation
If the push button device is made more sensitive, then the activation becomes easier, but the pushing force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first stem acts as an intermediary between the finger placement member and the second stem, converting the pushing force into tilting and swinging motions. This intermediary mechanism amplifies the effect of the applied force, achieving high sensitivity with reduced pushing force. The second stem then translates this motion to activate the switch, creating an efficient force transmission path.
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 mechanism enhances switching operation sensitivity and responsiveness by allowing actuation with a small amount of force, reducing the size of the operation portion while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a finger placement member having elasticity and disposed at an operation portion of the endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
A push button device for an endoscope includes: a connection member having a bottomed tubular shape and provided to a finger placement member, the finger placement member having elasticity and disposed on an exterior member of the endoscope; a first stem that has an upper end portion inserted and fitted into the connection member and that is slidably and swingably disposed; a second stem slidably and swingably provided and configured to move in conjunction with motion of the first stem; an immobile member slidably and swingably holding the first stem and the second stem; and a switch configured to be switched by displacement of the second stem moving in conjunction with the motion of the first stem when the finger placement member is pushed.