Endoscope Drive Control via Priority-Based Connection Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems face operability issues when multiple endoscopes of different types are connected, as they may inadvertently drive an endoscope contrary to the user's intention, leading to potential malfunctions and poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope apparatus with connection portions, a priority setting mechanism, and a drive control system that selects and drives only one endoscope based on user-defined priorities, ensuring the intended endoscope is activated while minimizing power consumption and preventing system errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple endoscopes are connected to the endoscope apparatus, then the system can support multiple endoscopes of different types, but it may inadvertently drive an endoscope contrary to user intention leading to malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of connection status at each connection portion before driving any endoscope. The drive control portion checks which endoscopes are connected and identifies the target endoscope based on user input, preventing inadvertent driving of wrong endoscopes. This preliminary detection and identification action resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable operation while maintaining multi-endoscope connectivity.
2Productivity
If the drive portion supplies drive signals to multiple endoscopes simultaneously, then all connected endoscopes can operate, but power consumption increases and system control becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive control portion implements partial action by selectively supplying drive signals only to the specific endoscope identified as the target, rather than driving all connected endoscopes. This selective driving approach reduces power consumption while still achieving the necessary productivity by operating the required endoscope. The system detects which endoscopes are connected but only activates the appropriate one based on user input.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically selects which endoscope to drive, then operability is simplified, but it may not align with user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by detecting which endoscopes are connected at each connection portion and using this information to present accurate options to the user. The drive control portion receives user input specifying the target endoscope and verifies the connection status, ensuring that the automatic selection process aligns with user intention. This feedback loop maintains ease of operation while preventing erroneous automatic selection.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus includes: a plurality of connection portions to which an endoscope can be connected, respectively, wherein a priority setting portion sets a connection priority of the plurality of connection portions, a drive portion supplies a drive signal to one endoscope and a control portion that controls so that the drive portion supplies the drive signal to any one endoscope only based on the connection priority. The endoscope apparatus further includes an identification portion that identifies the kind of endoscope based on a resistance value of a specific resistance that differs according to a kind of the endoscope that is arranged in the endoscope, and that is detected by cancelling a contact resistance in the connection portion.