Endoscope Forceps Plug with Cam Groove for Automatic Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forceps plugs for endoscopes require substantial time and effort for removal and destruction, as they necessitate separate manipulation for breaking and removal, leading to inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A plug device with a tubular plug body unit featuring a fitting hole, arm, boss, locking groove, and cam groove that guides the boss for deflection and automatic breaking during removal, allowing for easy detachment and destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a forceps plug is designed to be removable by separate manipulation for breaking and removal, then the plug can be removed from the forceps port opening, but the removal process requires substantial time and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the breaking action and removal action into a single integrated operation. By designing the arm to break automatically during the removal process when the boss is pulled along the cam groove, the invention merges two separate manipulations (breaking and removal) into one continuous motion, thereby reducing the time and effort required for plug removal
2Reliability
If a forceps plug is designed to prevent erroneous reuse through destruction, then the plug becomes non-reusable, but the separate manipulation for breaking and removal increases operational complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a self-service mechanism where the arm automatically breaks during the removal process without requiring separate breaking manipulation. The cam groove structure guides the boss in a path that naturally causes the arm to exceed its elastic limit and break as the plug is removed, thereby preventing erroneous reuse while simplifying the operational procedure
3Strength
If the arm is designed to break when deflection exceeds elastic limit, then the plug becomes destructible for preventing reuse, but the structure must be designed to withstand normal operational stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the arm with a specific structural configuration that allows controlled breaking at a predetermined location. The arm is designed with dimensions and material properties that enable it to withstand normal operational stresses during plug attachment and removal, but break when subjected to the specific deflection forces generated during the removal manipulation along the cam groove path
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
Facilitates the easy removal and destruction of the plug body unit, preventing erroneous reuse by automatically breaking during the removal process, thus improving efficiency compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
the deflection of the arm exceeds an elastic limit, and the arm is broken
Data Source
AI summary
A portion of an outer periphery of a plug body of a forceps plug is cut out to form an arm having a shape along the circumferential direction of an outer peripheral surface of an opening. A tip portion of the arm is formed with a boss that protrudes toward the opening. An outer peripheral surface of the opening tip portion is formed with a cam groove for a forceps plug that guides the boss. The cam groove for a forceps plug is constituted by a cam groove for attachment that guides the boss 33 when the forceps plug is attached, a cam groove for locking that locks the boss, and a cam groove for removal that guides the boss when the forceps plug is removed. When the boss moves along the cam groove for removal, the deflection of the arm exceeds an elastic limit, and the arm breaks.