Ultrasonic Endoscope Cleaning Access for the Erecting Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic endoscopes face difficulties in cleaning the erecting base and surrounding parts due to their liquid-tight design, necessitating complex insertion of cleaning tools through openings, which complicates the process.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic endoscope incorporates a cleaning communication hole on the opposite side of the erecting base housing portion, allowing easy access for cleaning tools like brushes or syringes, and positions the observation window proximal to the erecting base housing to maintain visibility during treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ultrasonic endoscope maintains a liquid-tight design with an irremovable distal end cap, then the reliability of the ultrasonic vibrator is improved, but the ease of cleaning the erecting base and surrounding parts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple sections with a removable cap that separates the cleaning access area from the ultrasonic vibrator area. This allows the cleaning path to be segmented from the liquid-tight seal area, enabling easy cleaning access while maintaining the integrity of the ultrasonic vibrator housing.
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning path is extracted and opened on the side opposite to the opening direction of the erecting base housing portion. This creates a dedicated extraction path for cleaning tools to access the erecting base and surrounding parts without compromising the liquid-tight design of the main housing.
2Ease of operation
If the cleaning path is opened on the side opposite to the opening direction of the erecting base housing portion, then the ease of cleaning the erecting base is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is designed with multi-functionality, where the same housing serves both as the liquid-tight enclosure for the ultrasonic vibrator and as the structure that accommodates the cleaning path. The cap removal mechanism serves dual purposes: maintaining seal integrity during operation and enabling cleaning access when removed.
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
This design facilitates easier cleaning of the erecting base and surrounding parts while ensuring clear visibility and accurate treatment tool placement, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transducer that has an ultrasonic vibrator
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic vibrator; a distal end portion body disposed continuously with a proximal end side of the ultrasonic transducer; an erecting base housing portion that is disposed in the distal end portion body and has an opening which opens toward one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the distal end portion body; a treatment tool lead-out port that communicates with the inside of the erecting base housing portion; an erecting base that is disposed in the inside of the erecting base housing portion and changes a lead out direction of a treatment tool led out from the treatment tool lead-out port; and a cleaning communication hole that is formed in a wall surface on a side opposite to a side where the opening of the erecting base housing portion is disposed and communicates with an outside.