Flexible Endoscope Connection Plug with Curved Fiber Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible endoscopes face challenges in connecting to relay apparatuses efficiently, leading to potential damage of image and light guides due to improper connection procedures and excessive tension, which can impair their performance.
Innovation Solution
A flexible endoscope design featuring a connection plug with slidable image and light guides within a catheter tube, where the guides are arranged curved inside the plug, reducing tension and preventing damage, and a distinct terminal arrangement to facilitate easy and correct connection to the relay apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If connection terminals are individually connected to the relay apparatus, then the connection can be made, but the connection operation takes an unnecessary amount of time and connection terminals may be mistaken and connected to the wrong ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple connection terminals (image guide terminal and light guide terminal) into a single integrated connection plug. This allows both terminals to be connected to the relay apparatus simultaneously in one insertion action, eliminating the need for separate connection operations and reducing the risk of connecting terminals to wrong ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection plug is segmented into distinct terminal regions with different structures (conductive terminal and optical terminal), allowing each terminal type to be clearly identified and connected to the corresponding port, preventing mismatched connections while maintaining simultaneous connection capability.
2Reliability
If connection terminals are individually connected to the relay apparatus, then the connection can be made, but connection terminals may be mistaken and connected to the wrong ports
Solution Approach 1:
The connection plug employs asymmetric terminal design where the conductive terminal and optical terminal have different structural characteristics and positions. This asymmetry makes it impossible to connect terminals to wrong ports, as each terminal can only fit into its corresponding port, thereby ensuring connection accuracy.
3Productivity
If the image guide and light guide are not protected during connection, then the connection can be made quickly, but the fibers may be damaged and the performance of the image guide is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a curved protective path for the image guide and light guide fibers within the connection plug structure. This pre-designed curved path cushions and protects the fibers from damage during the connection process, allowing quick connection operations without risking fiber damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection plug uses a flexible protective sheath or housing that envelops and protects the fragile image guide and light guide fibers. This flexible protective structure allows the fibers to move and bend without damage while maintaining their integrity during connection operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A flexible endoscope of the present invention includes a catheter portion and a connection plug. The catheter portion includes an image guide, a light guide, and a catheter tube that surrounds the image guide and the light guide in a longitudinal direction, and the connection plug includes a hollow cover that accommodates the proximal end of the catheter tube, a flexible tube that protrudes from the hollow cover and through which the catheter tube is passed, a first connection terminal that is connected to the light guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube, and a second connection terminal that is connected to the image guide extending from the proximal end of the catheter tube. The image guide and the light guide are slidable inside the catheter tube, and at least one of the image guide and the light guide is arranged curved inside the hollow cover of the connection plug.