Endoscope Cover Member With Concave Portion For Spool Adhesion Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes face challenges in preventing the deterioration of adhesive agents used in the spool adhesion portions during cleaning and sterilization, which can lead to issues with the fixation of the bending portion envelope.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design incorporates a cover member with a concave portion that matches the shape of a protrusion on the insertion portion, allowing for precise positioning and coverage of the spool adhesion portions, while also enabling efficient wiping off of excess adhesive agent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring-shaped member is fixed to cover the spool adhesion portion before adhesive hardening, then the adhesive agent is protected from deterioration during cleaning and sterilization, but the structure becomes more complex and the manufacturing process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protective function from a separate ring-shaped member and integrates it into the cover member itself through the concave portion structure. The concave portion is formed directly on the cover member to cover the spool adhesion portion, eliminating the need for an additional protective component while maintaining the protective function against medicinal solutions during cleaning and sterilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the protective function with the cover member by forming a concave portion that directly covers the spool adhesion portion. This integration combines the envelope covering function and the adhesive protection function into a single component, simplifying the overall structure and reducing the number of parts while ensuring the adhesive agent remains protected during cleaning and sterilization processes.
2Reliability
If the cover member is positioned precisely to cover the spool adhesion portion, then the adhesive agent is protected from deterioration, but the positioning and alignment process becomes more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-forming the concave portion on the cover member during the molding process. This concave portion is designed to match the shape and position of the spool adhesion portion, so that when the cover member is installed, it automatically aligns and covers the adhesive area without requiring complex positioning procedures. The envelope's protrusion further aids in this preliminary alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the envelope's protrusion as an intermediary element that facilitates the positioning of the cover member. The protrusion fits into the concave portion, serving as a guide that automatically aligns the cover member with the spool adhesion portion during assembly. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures and reduces assembly time while ensuring precise coverage of the adhesive agent.
3Strength
If excess adhesive agent is allowed to ooze out during assembly, then the adhesive bonds properly, but the excess adhesive deteriorates the working properties of the endoscope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the excess adhesive from the functional area by directing it to ooze out through the end portion of the cover member, which is positioned away from the spool adhesion portion. This allows the adhesive to be removed from the critical working area where it would otherwise deteriorate the envelope's flexibility and working properties, while still maintaining proper bonding at the adhesion site.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary that controls the flow path of excess adhesive. By designing the cover member with a specific end portion configuration, the patent guides the excess adhesive away from the spool adhesion portion and envelope, preventing it from affecting the working properties. The concave portion and protrusion structure work together to channel the excess adhesive to a safe discharge location.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes: an envelope provided so as to cover an outer surface of an insertion portion; a filamentous member that is wound around an outer surface of the envelope and causes an end portion of the envelope to be fixed to the insertion portion; a resin applied to a spool member in which the filamentous member is wound around the envelope; a protruding portion provided on the outer surface of the insertion portion and formed in one part of the insertion portion in a circumferential direction; a cover member mounted so as to cover an outer circumference of the resin; and a concave portion provided in an inner circumferential surface of the cover member, including a cross-sectional shape homothetic to a cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion, and disposed in a position shifted from the protruding portion in a circumferential direction of the insertion portion.