Endoscope Distal End Layout for Smaller Diameter and Service Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes with imaging and illumination parts arranged one above the other require a wall between their housing spaces, limiting the ability to reduce the diameter of the distal end body.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design includes a distal end body with separate housing portions for the imaging and illumination parts, allowing them to be positioned orthogonally and enabling individual attachment and detachment, thus eliminating the need for a wall between them, thereby reducing the distal end body's diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the imaging part and illumination part are arranged one above the other in the distal end body, then the distal end body diameter can be reduced by eliminating the wall between housing spaces, but the components cannot be individually detached for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The distal end body is divided into multiple housing portions (first housing portion for imaging part, second housing portion for illumination part) that are connected via communicating opening portions. This segmentation allows each component to be independently accessed and detached through its respective opening, enabling maintenance without removing the entire distal end body while maintaining a compact integrated structure.
2Device complexity
If the imaging part and illumination part are arranged one above the other, then the structural complexity is reduced by eliminating the wall, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase for the communicating opening portions
Solution Approach 1:
The communicating opening portions serve multiple functions: they allow the housing portions to be connected forming an integrated distal end body, provides access pathways for component installation and detachment, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate access openings or complex coupling mechanisms, thereby reducing overall structural complexity despite the precision requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes: a distal end body positioned at a distal end of an insertion portion; and a first built-in component and a second built-in component each having a distal end portion housed in the distal end body. The distal end body includes: a first housing portion that extends along a first direction and houses the distal end portion of the first built-in component; a first opening portion communicating with the first housing portion and being open in at least a second direction; a second housing portion that communicates with the first housing portion, extends along the first direction at a position shifted in a third direction, and houses the distal end portion of the second built-in component; and a second opening portion communicating with the second housing portion and be open in at least the second direction.