Endoscope Forceps Elevator Dual Operation Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope apparatuses face challenges in operating a forceps elevator to its maximum angular position due to high bending stiffness of treatment tools, leading to reduced operability and inability to achieve the desired maximum erecting motion range.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope apparatus incorporates a dual operation range for the erecting operation member, allowing the operation wire to be pulled further beyond the initial range to ensure the forceps elevator can be erected to the maximum angular position, even with tools of high bending stiffness, and includes an index to indicate the operation range and a locking mechanism to prevent unintended elevation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the forceps elevator is set to maximum erecting angle with high bending stiffness treatment tool, then the treatment tool can be led out at desired angle, but the forceps elevator cannot be set to maximum angular position due to large force applied to forceps elevator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operation wire length adjustable. The wire length changing mechanism allows the system to adapt its mechanical properties dynamically based on the treatment tool's bending stiffness, enabling maximum erecting angle to be achieved even with high-stiffness tools without compromising operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the operation wire (its length) to resolve the contradiction. By adjusting the wire length, the system compensates for the large forces generated by high-bending-stiffness tools, allowing the forceps elevator to reach its maximum angular position while maintaining ease of operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the operation wire length is increased to erect forceps elevator to maximum angular position, then maximum erecting angle can be achieved, but the operation wire may become too loose when treatment tool is not led out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics by implementing an adjustable operation wire length mechanism. The wire length is dynamically changed based on whether a treatment tool is inserted, ensuring optimal tension in both scenarios: sufficiently long to achieve maximum erecting angle when needed, and appropriately tensioned when the tool is not present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting in advance whether a treatment tool will be inserted and pre-adjusting the operation wire length accordingly. This prevents the wire from being too loose or too tight, ensuring reliable operation in both states.
3Ease of operation
If the erecting operation member operation range is extended to accommodate high bending stiffness tools, then maximum angular position can be reached, but the operation range becomes unnecessarily large when low bending stiffness tools are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the operation wire length adjustable based on the treatment tool's bending stiffness. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the operation range for each specific tool, achieving maximum angular position when needed while maintaining appropriate operation range for low-stiffness tools, without permanently increasing the mechanism's complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an endoscope apparatus in which a forceps elevator can be operated according to the operator's intention even when a treatment tool has large bending stiffness. The forceps elevator is erectably provided in a distal end part of the insertion part of the endoscope apparatus and guides the treatment tool led out from the distal end part. The forceps elevator has an erecting motion range from a minimum angular position to a maximum angular position. If a state in which the treatment tool is not led out from the distal end part is assumed, the erecting operation lever for operating the movement of the forceps elevator has: a first operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated within the erecting motion range of the forceps elevator; and a second operation range where the erecting operation lever is operated beyond the first operation range.