Endoscope Coupling Section Rotary Body Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope designs with detachable driving source units face challenges in minimizing the size of the attachment/detachment section between the proximal end of the insertion section and the driving source unit, making attachment and detachment cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

The endoscope incorporates a coupling section with a rotary body that converts linear movement of a working shaft into rotational movement, using a rack-and-pinion mechanism to operate the bend section, allowing for a reduction in the size of the attachment/detachment section and facilitating easier coupling and decoupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional attachment/detachment section is used between the insertion section and driving source unit, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the size of the attachment/detachment section becomes large and attachment/detachment operations become cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachment and detachmentVSAvoidsize of attachment/detachment section

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The wire for bend operation is wound around the rotary body, nesting the wire within the coupling section. This eliminates the need for separate cable management spaces and reduces the overall attachment/detachment section size while maintaining functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling section integrates multiple functions: it couples the insertion section to the driving source unit, houses the rotary body, winds the wire, and transmits driving force through the working shaft. By merging these functions into one compact section, the patent reduces the overall size while improving operational ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If a compact attachment/detachment section is implemented, then the size is reduced, but the mechanism for converting linear movement to rotational movement becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of attachment/detachment sectionVSAvoidcomplexity of driving force transmission mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex multi-stage mechanical transmissions with a simple rack-and-pinion mechanism. The working shaft with rack teeth directly engages the pinion on the rotary body, providing efficient linear-to-rotational conversion in a single stage, thus reducing mechanism complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack teeth on the working shaft serve as an intermediary element that directly translates linear movement into rotational movement of the rotary body. This simple intermediary mechanism avoids the need for complex gear trains or cam mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If the wire for bend operation is wound around a rotary body, then the attachment/detachment section size is reduced, but the reliability of wire positioning may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of attachment/detachment sectionVSAvoidreliability of wire positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wire is pre-wound around the rotary body in a predetermined manner before assembly. This preliminary configuration ensures proper wire positioning and tension distribution, maintaining reliability while enabling compact design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of extending the wire linearly from the coupling section, the patent winds the wire around the rotary body. This inverted arrangement uses the rotary body as the wire holder rather than a separate cable management component, reducing size while maintaining positioning reliability through the winding configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 design enables a more compact and user-friendly attachment/detachment process between the endoscope's insertion section and the driving source unit, improving operational efficiency and reducing the complexity of the coupling mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

using a rack-and-pinion mechanism to operate the bend section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRack and Pinion: Rack and Pinion

Data Source

PatentUS7780593B2Endoscope

Publication Date: 2010.08.24 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A bend section is disposed on an insertion section. A rotary body, on which a proximal end portion of a wire for a bend operation, which has a distal end portion connected to the bend section, is rotatably supported in a large-diameter section. Driving force transmission portion, which converts linear movement of a working shaft that is operable in a linear direction to rotational movement of the rotary body, is provided in the large-diameter section. A driving source unit is detachably coupled to the large-diameter section on the proximal end side of the insertion section. The driving source unit is provided with operation section which linearly moves the working shaft, in accordance with an operation of a driving shaft that operates in a linear direction by a driving force from a driving motor.