Endoscope Fluid Guiding Part for Observation Window Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes face challenges in ensuring that cleaning liquid is completely removed from the observation window and adjacent regions, leading to issues like halation and limb darkening, which deteriorate image quality due to residual cleaning liquid.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design incorporates a fluid guiding part with a width less than the fluid injection nozzle's opening, directing fluid to both the observation window and adjacent regions through distinct guide faces, ensuring efficient removal of cleaning liquid with a gas injection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a tapered inclined part is formed in the peripheral part of the observation window to spread cleaning liquid throughout the surface, then cleaning performance for the entire surface is improved, but cleaning liquid may remain in regions adjacent to the observation window causing halation or limb darkening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fluid injection system into multiple nozzles: a first fluid injection nozzle for injecting cleaning liquid to the observation window, and a second fluid injection nozzle for injecting gas to adjacent regions. This segmentation allows independent control of cleaning liquid application and removal, preventing liquid accumulation in adjacent regions while maintaining effective cleaning of the observation window surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas injection system as an intermediary mechanism to remove cleaning liquid from adjacent regions. The gas acts as a mediator that blows away residual cleaning liquid from areas where the cleaning liquid nozzle cannot effectively reach, preventing halation and limb darkening without interfering with the primary cleaning function.
2Manufacturing precision
If cleaning liquid is injected to remove accretions from the observation window, then cleaning performance is improved, but it takes a long time to remove the cleaning liquid completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the second fluid injection nozzle (gas injection) to operate in conjunction with the first nozzle (cleaning liquid injection). The gas injection begins immediately after or during the cleaning liquid injection, preliminarily removing liquid before it can accumulate or dry slowly. This preliminary removal action significantly reduces the time required for complete drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous simultaneous injection of cleaning liquid and gas from respective nozzles. The cleaning liquid is continuously supplied to remove accretions while gas continuously removes the liquid, maintaining uninterrupted useful action throughout the cleaning process rather than sequential operations that would extend total time.
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 enables rapid and reliable removal of cleaning liquid from the observation window and adjacent areas, preventing image quality deterioration and improving cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid injection nozzle arranged in the distal end face, and configured to inject a fluid to the observation window
Implementation Method 2
subsequently, the fluid injection nozzle injects gas to remove the cleaning liquid remaining on the observation window
Data Source
AI summary
Cleaning performance or wiping performance for an observation window is improved in an endoscope. In a distal end face of a distal end part of the endoscope, a guide part rising to a distal end side is provided between an observation window and a fluid injection nozzle. A width of the guide face of the guide part has a narrowed part, and a portion with the narrowest width serves as a fluid guiding part. The fluid guiding part guides fluid passing through a position of the fluid guiding part, in fluid injected from the fluid injection nozzle, to a first fluid route through which the fluid is guided to the observation window. Fluid deviated from the fluid guiding part is guided to a region adjacent to the observation window through a second fluid route.