Endoscope Treatment Channel Wall Compression for Smaller Distal Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes, particularly those with long units like image pickup units and treatment instrument channels, face challenges in achieving a reduced diameter at the distal end due to the large spatial occupation of these components, leading to potential damage from deformation and interference during bending.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design incorporates a treatment instrument channel with a first wall portion formed by compression forming, having a thinner wall thickness than other parts, positioned adjacent to an image pickup unit, and an adjacent unit, with additional forming portions to enhance rigidity and prevent deformation, allowing closer arrangement and reducing the distal end diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the image pickup unit and treatment instrument channel are arranged side by side in the radial direction to reduce the distal end diameter, then the diameter of the distal end side is reduced, but the components are more prone to deformation and damage during bending
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a forming portion with different wall thickness characteristics at a specific location of the treatment instrument channel. The forming portion has a first wall portion with a first wall thickness and a second wall portion with a second wall thickness that is different from the first wall thickness. This local structural variation enhances rigidity at the critical location where the treatment instrument channel is arranged adjacent to the image pickup unit, preventing deformation during bending while maintaining the reduced distal end diameter configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment instrument channel is segmented into different wall portions with different thickness characteristics. The forming portion is divided into a first wall portion and a second wall portion, each with distinct wall thicknesses. This segmentation allows the channel to have optimized mechanical properties at different locations, providing enhanced rigidity where needed (at the forming portion adjacent to the image pickup unit) while maintaining flexibility elsewhere in the insertion portion.
2Shape
If the treatment instrument channel is positioned closer to the image pickup unit in the radial direction, then the distal end diameter is reduced, but the components interfere with each other during bending operations
Solution Approach 1:
The forming portion with differentiated wall thicknesses creates a rigid structure that maintains the spatial relationship between the treatment instrument channel and image pickup unit. This local reinforcement prevents the components from interfering with each other during bending, allowing them to be positioned closer together in the radial direction without causing operational interference.
3Shape
If the wall thickness of the treatment instrument channel is reduced to achieve a smaller diameter, then the distal end diameter is reduced, but the channel becomes more susceptible to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly reducing wall thickness throughout the treatment instrument channel, the patent applies local quality by creating a forming portion with specific wall thickness characteristics at a critical location. The first wall portion has a first wall thickness and the second wall portion has a second wall thickness, providing localized reinforcement where the channel is most susceptible to deformation (at the forming portion adjacent to the image pickup unit) while maintaining the overall reduced diameter configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment instrument channel is segmented into different wall portions with different thickness characteristics. This segmentation allows the channel to have optimized mechanical properties at different locations, providing enhanced strength and deformation resistance at the forming portion while maintaining reduced wall thickness elsewhere to achieve the smaller overall diameter.
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 configuration enhances durability by preventing damage to long units while achieving a smaller distal end diameter, improving the endoscope's insertion capabilities and reducing interference during bending.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment instrument channel includes a first wall portion formed by compression forming such that a wall thickness of the first wall portion is smaller than a wall thickness of a different part of the treatment instrument channel
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes: a distal end constituting portion including a first hole and a second hole; a treatment instrument channel, a distal end of which is fixed in the first hole; and an adjacent unit, a distal end of which is fixed in the second hole, and is arranged side by side with the treatment instrument channel. The treatment instrument includes a first wall portion formed by compression forming such that a wall thickness of the first wall portion of the treatment instrument channel is smaller than a wall thickness of a different wall portion of the treatment instrument channel. The first wall portion is disposed on a side of the treatment instrument channel facing the adjacent unit.