Endoscope Elevator Actuator Geometry for Ergonomic Finger Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current elevator actuators in endoscopes pose ergonomic challenges, particularly for medical professionals with smaller hands, leading to difficulty in manipulating the actuator, increased procedure time, and musculoskeletal injuries due to repetitive thumb movements.
Innovation Solution
The design of the elevator actuator includes multiple radially outermost surfaces angled and recessed relative to each other, allowing for ergonomic contact points that can be accessed by multiple fingers, reducing the need for excessive thumb movement and distributing the actuation force across multiple digits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional elevator actuator design is used, then the structure is simple, but medical professionals with smaller hands have difficulty reaching and manipulating the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator design incorporates multiple radially outermost contact surfaces arranged in different radial positions and orientations. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows users with various hand sizes to access the actuator from different angles and positions, transforming a single-point contact design into a multi-dimensional contact interface that accommodates diverse ergonomic requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is segmented into multiple distinct contact surfaces (first radially outermost surface, second radially outermost surface, etc.) rather than a single continuous surface. Each surface can be independently contacted by different fingers or thumb positions, allowing segmentation of the control function across multiple user contact points, thereby improving accessibility and manipulation ease.
2Ease of operation
If the elevator actuator requires repetitive thumb movements, then the actuator can be operated, but musculoskeletal injuries may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator design provides multiple contact surfaces that can be operated by different fingers or different positions of the same finger, making the actuator universally operable by various user anatomies. This multi-functionality in terms of contact options reduces the need for repetitive or extreme thumb movements, thereby lowering the risk of musculoskeletal injuries while maintaining full operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the operational parameters by providing contact surfaces at different radial distances and angular positions. This allows users to adjust their contact point parameters (which finger, where on the actuator) to match their individual ergonomics, reducing strain and preventing injuries associated with repetitive motions in fixed-position actuators.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wire mechanism becomes rigid in tortuous positions, then the endoscope can navigate complex anatomy, but additional effort is required to move the elevator actuator
Solution Approach 1:
By providing contact surfaces in multiple radial dimensions, the actuator allows users to apply force from different directional vectors. This can help overcome the increased resistance from rigid wire mechanisms in tortuous positions by enabling more ergonomic force application angles that better utilize user hand strength and reduce mechanical disadvantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows changing the force application parameters (contact point location, force direction) to optimize the mechanical advantage when operating the actuator. In situations where the wire mechanism is rigid due to tortuous positioning, users can select contact surfaces that allow force application in more favorable directions, reducing the additional effort required.
4Reliability
If medical professionals must hold the elevator actuator in place, then the desired angle position is maintained, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different radially outermost surfaces can be optimized for different functions: some surfaces can be designed with features that facilitate easy positioning and locking, while others optimize for rapid adjustment. This local differentiation of surface qualities allows the actuator to provide both reliable position maintenance and efficient repositioning, improving overall procedure productivity without sacrificing positioning reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device comprising, a handle body, a flexible shaft coupled to a distal end of the handle body, a distal tip coupled to a distal end of the shaft and including a movable element, and an actuator coupled to the handle body and configured, upon actuation, to move the movable element, wherein the actuator includes a first contact element having outer contact surfaces each configured for contact by a finger of a user, each of the outer contact surfaces being at least one of angled and recessed relative to the other outer contact surfaces to provide a plurality of positions of contact between the finger and the actuator.