Endoscope Rotating Drum Cleaning Nozzle Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes require interruption of the surgical procedure to clean the imaging system, which can lead to undesirable interruptions and impairments in medical surgeries.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design featuring a rotation drum or module with a storage fork and an optical formation system, where a first fluid line and nozzle are integrated to clean and cool the imaging system without altering the direction of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the imaging system is cleaned by pivoting it into the interior of the rigid shaft tube, then the imaging system can be flushed and cleaned by liquid, but the surgical procedure must be interrupted and the tracking of objects in the surgical area is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is segmented from the imaging system itself and relocated to the bearing fork structure. The bearing fork is divided into multiple legs with individual nozzles that can independently direct fluid streams at the imaging system from different angles, enabling cleaning without moving the imaging system from its operational position.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing fork acts as an intermediary structure that delivers cleaning fluid to the imaging system. Instead of directly pivoting the imaging system into the shaft tube for cleaning, the bearing fork serves as a mediator that brings the cleaning function to the imaging system while it remains in its operational viewing position.
2Productivity
If the imaging system operates continuously during surgical procedures, then productivity is maintained, but temperature control and cooling of the imaging system becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system in the bearing fork is designed to serve multiple functions: it can clean the imaging system optics and simultaneously provide cooling. The same nozzles and fluid lines that deliver cleaning liquid also serve to dissipate heat from the imaging system, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluid dynamics through the bearing fork's hydraulic system to achieve both cleaning and cooling. Pressurized fluid delivered through the fluid lines and nozzles removes contaminants via shear force while the continuous flow of liquid absorbs and carries away heat from the imaging system components.
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
Enables effective cleaning and cooling of the imaging system during use, preventing interruptions in medical procedures and improving temperature management, particularly cooling, of the imaging system.
Implementation Method 1
The bearing fork has at least one first fluid line and at least one nozzle for cleaning and/or cooling the imaging system
Implementation Method 2
at least one first nozzle is arranged at a distal end of the bearing fork in order to clean the field of view of the imaging system with the fluid
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
An endoscope (10) with a rotating drum (20) or a rotating module and an elongated rigid and/or flexible shaft tube (12) which, at a distal end (14), is rotatably mounted about a first axis of rotation (18) by means of a bearing fork (16), and wherein an optical imaging system (22) is arranged in the rotating drum (20). The bearing fork (16) has at least one first fluid line (34) and at least one nozzle (36) for cleaning and/or cooling the imaging system (22).