Endoscope Camera Housing UV Cured Polymer Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes have cumbersome camera housing assembly methods and larger diameter tips, which hinder efficiency and speed in production and usage.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design with a reduced diameter tip portion and a method of assembling the camera housing using a polymer material that cures quickly under UV light, embedding the camera device and light source within the housing material, and integrating the bending portion for easier assembly and connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mould is used to form the camera housing with material extending out to form the outer surface, then the camera housing can be assembled, but the outer diameter becomes larger and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera housing structure with the filler material by allowing the material to extend out and form the outer surface directly, eliminating the need for a separate hard outer shell. This integration reduces the overall outer diameter while simplifying the assembly process, as the filler material serves dual purposes: holding components in place and forming the external housing structure.
2Reliability
If the tubing is extended all the way to the tip of the endoscope, then fluid communication is improved, but the outer diameter of the camera housing increases due to overlapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the distal end of the tubing from overlapping the camera device in the radial dimension to positioning it between the proximal end of the camera device and the proximal end of the camera housing along the longitudinal axis. This dimensional change eliminates radial overlap, reducing the outer diameter while maintaining continuous fluid communication through the tubing to the tip.
3Productivity
If the bending portion is embedded in the camera housing material, then assembly efficiency improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bending portion is pre-positioned and embedded within the filler material before the material fully cures. This preliminary action allows the bending portion to be integrated into the housing structure during the filling process itself, rather than requiring separate assembly steps after curing, thereby improving assembly efficiency while managing manufacturing complexity through timing the embedding action.
4Manufacturing precision
If a rigid frame is used to hold components together before filling, then component positioning is improved, but the device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rigid frame from the final housing structure, using it only temporarily during the filling process to hold components in position. Once the filler material cures, the frame serves its purpose and can be removed or left embedded, eliminating the need for a permanent rigid frame structure in the final product, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining positioning precision during assembly.
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 solution enables faster production, reduced outer diameter of the camera housing, and improved assembly efficiency, with the camera device and light source protected from the environment, while maintaining a strong connection between components.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer material that cures quickly under UV light
Data Source
AI summary
The current invention relates to an endoscope having a distal end being arranged to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient to be examined and a proximal end which is arranged to be held by the user of the endoscope. The endoscope further comprises a control handle arranged at the proximal end of the endoscope and an insertion portion arranged at the distal end of the control handle. The insertion portion comprises a camera housing arranged at the distal end of the insertion portion, said camera housing being a molded component comprising an outer surface, a camera device embedded in the material of the camera housing, and a light source embedded in the material of the camera housing.