Endoscope Clip Unit Rotation Restricting Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope treatment tools face challenges in effectively ligating tissue under precise control, particularly in maintaining the rotational orientation of the clip unit during tissue engagement and preventing unintended rotation upon contact with other tissues or instruments.

Innovation Solution

The endoscope treatment tool incorporates a clip unit with an arm member that includes a holding tube and a helical spring, featuring a rotation restricting structure comprising engagement and engaged parts, which prevents the arm member from rotating around the holding tube's axis when engaged, allowing for precise tissue ligation and maintaining the desired orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the arm member is allowed to rotate freely around the holding tube axis, then the tool can adapt to different tissue orientations, but the arm member may rotate unintentionally upon contact with other tissues or instruments, compromising ligation precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different tissue orientationsVSAvoidprecision of ligation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static fixed-orientation state to a dynamic rotatable state upon contact with tissue. The arm member can rotate freely when not engaged, allowing adaptation to different tissue orientations, but locks into a fixed position when engaged with the holding tube, preventing unintended rotation and ensuring ligation precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation restricting structure pre-prevents unintended rotation by providing engagement surfaces that lock the arm member's orientation. This preliminary constraint counteracts the potential harmful effect of accidental contact with other tissues or instruments that could cause unwanted rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the arm member is constrained to prevent rotation, then ligation precision is maintained, but the ability to adjust orientation during approach to tissue is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of ligationVSAvoidadjustability of orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two states: a free-rotation state during approach and positioning that allows ease of orientation adjustment, and a locked state during ligation that ensures precision. The transition is triggered by contact with the holding tube, which engages the rotation restricting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the arm member can rotate integrally with the operation wire, then orientation control is achieved, but unintended rotation may occur upon contact with other structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation controlVSAvoidstability of orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation restricting structure pre-empts unintended rotation by providing mechanical engagement surfaces (engagement part and engaged part) that lock the relative orientation between the arm member and holding tube. This preliminary constraint prevents the harmful effect of accidental contact causing unwanted rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 solution enables precise and controlled ligation of tissue by restricting the arm member's rotation, ensuring accurate positioning and preventing unintended orientation changes, thus enhancing the tool's effectiveness in medical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a biasing member having a biasing force for moving the arm member toward a distal end side of the holding tube. The biasing member may be composed of a spring disposed inside the holding tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The arm member and the holding tube have a rotation restricting structure that prevents the arm member from rotating about an axis of the holding tube. The rotation restricting structure may include: an engagement part provided in the holding tube and engages with the arm member; and an engaged part provided on the arm member and engaged with the engagement part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10842351B2Endoscope treatment tool

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An endoscope treatment tool includes: a tubular sheath part; an operation wire; an arm member; a holding tube; and a biasing member. The sheath part includes an elongated body part, and a tubular member. In a state where the holding tube and the tubular member are in contact with each other, the holding tube and the tubular member are connected to each other so as not to be rotated relative to each other about an axis and to be movable relative to each other in a direction in which a central axis of the sheath part extends. The arm member and the holding tube have a rotation restricting structure that prevents the arm member from rotating about an axis of the holding tube in a state where the arm member is in contact with the holding tube against the biasing force of the biasing member.