Endoscope Transmission Cable Tension Member Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing transmission cables for endoscope devices face disconnection issues due to stress on metal cables, which cannot be adequately reduced by braided shield wires without increasing the cable's thickness, thereby compromising flexibility and bendability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a high-strength fiber tension member disposed parallel to the optical cable within the transmission cable, which helps prevent disconnection while maintaining the cable's outer diameter, flexibility, and bendability by distributing stress effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the braided shield wire is increased to reduce stress on metal cables, then the strength is improved, but the outer diameter increases which impairs flexibility and bendability
Solution Approach 1:
The stress-bearing function is segmented from the braided shield wire to a dedicated tension member. The braided shield wire focuses on electromagnetic shielding while the separate tension member (made of high-strength fiber) handles mechanical stress, allowing optimization of each component's thickness without compromising the other property.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension member serves multiple functions: it reduces stress on metal cables, maintains cable strength, and preserves flexibility by being thinner than a thick braided shield wire would be. This multi-functional approach resolves the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If the diameter of metal cables is reduced to improve flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but stress resistance deteriorates increasing disconnection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of flexibility and stress resistance are segmented to different components. Thin metal cables provide flexibility while the separate high-strength tension member provides stress resistance, allowing metal cables to be thinner without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension member acts as an intermediary that bears the stress load, protecting the thin metal cables from disconnection while allowing them to maintain small diameter for flexibility. The tension member mediates between the conflicting requirements of thin cable diameter and stress resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a medical observation system capable of preventing disconnection of metal cables without increasing the thickness of a braided shield wire. The medical observation system includes a transmission cable including: an optical cable having one or more optical fiber cores; a plurality of metal cables arranged around the optical cable; and a tension member made of a high-strength fiber, and disposed in parallel with an extending direction of the optical cable.