Endoscope Face Tip Assembly with Acute-Angle Tool Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopic instruments have a 'blind spot' due to the location of the operating tool exit behind the optics, leading to potential ureteral wall tears or perforations during procedures, and require frequent rotation, increasing trauma and risk of inflammation.
Innovation Solution
A face tip assembly for endoscopes with an operating tool port positioned on the outer wall surface at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, allowing simultaneous viewing and tool usage without rotation, and incorporating optical and luminous channels for improved visibility and illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the operating tool exit port is located behind the optics, then the instrument structure is simplified, but the surgeon loses visual control of the tools creating a blind spot and increasing the risk of ureteral wall tears or perforations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the operating tool exit port in front of the optics rather than behind them. This reversal eliminates the blind spot and allows the surgeon to maintain continuous visual control of the operating tools while they exit the instrument, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and visual control reliability
2Device complexity
If the operating tools exit on the side of the instrument, then the tool delivery mechanism is simplified, but the surgeon must frequently rotate the instrument to target lesions increasing trauma and risk of inflammation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a side-exit configuration to a forward-exit configuration, changing the spatial dimension of tool delivery. By positioning the exit port at the front of the instrument face, the surgeon can deliver tools directly toward the target without requiring rotational maneuvers, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of frequent rotation on the urinary tract
3Reliability
If the operating tool port is positioned at the front of the face tip assembly, then visual control of tools is improved eliminating blind spots, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The face tip assembly is designed with multi-functionality, integrating the operating tool exit port, optics, and illumination in a unified front-facing configuration. This universal design allows the same front position to serve multiple functions (tool delivery, imaging, and illumination), thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving superior visual control
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 reduces the risk of laceration and trauma by providing clear visual control of operating tools during procedures, minimizing the need for instrument rotation and enhancing access to visually obscured body cavities.
Implementation Method 1
an optical image collector, for example, a telescope port for viewing
Implementation Method 2
a luminous conductor port, for example, an illumination fiberoptics port
Data Source
AI summary
A face tip assembly for an endoscope for viewing a visually obscured portion of a body cavity and for surgically treating a portion of a body cavity with an operating tool may include at least one operating tool port located in an outer wall surface of the face tip assembly, and the outer wall surface may generally lie in a plane which is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the face tip housing. This outer wall surface may have a generally U-shaped configuration. At least one optical image channel port may be located in another outer wall surface of the face tip housing, and this outer wall surface faces toward the distal end of the face tip housing. The outer wall surface in which the tool port is located extends from the outer wall surface in which the at least one optical image channel port is located, toward the distal end of the face tip housing.