Endoscope Bending Tube Gap Structure for Stable Four-Way Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope bending mechanisms face challenges in achieving smooth steering, rotational flexibility, bending mechanical properties, and structural strength, particularly in four-way bending, with pin-based structures being costly and difficult to manufacture, and pin-less structures lacking steering stability.
Innovation Solution
A controllable bending mechanism for endoscopes featuring olive-shaped gaps along the hollow tube, with specific gap configurations and destressing incisions, allowing for adjustable turning radius and stiffness, enhancing rotational flexibility and steering stability while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pin-based structures are used for four-way bending, then rotational flexibility and bending mechanical properties are improved, but radial dimension increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the pin structure from the hollow tube, transitioning from a pin-based connection method to a pin-less laser-cut gap structure. This eliminates the complex pin insertion and fixation processes while maintaining the four-way bending capability through strategically positioned gaps that allow controlled deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pin connection system with a laser-cut gap structure. Instead of using physical pins to enable bending, the patent uses precisely cut gaps in the hollow tube that allow the tube to deform in four directions through controlled stress distribution, substituting a complex mechanical assembly with a simpler geometric feature.
2Ease of manufacture
If pin-less laser-cut structures are used, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but steering stability and rotational flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating gaps with specific geometric characteristics (olive shape with varying width) at specific locations on the hollow tube. The gap width is not uniform but varies along the circumferential direction, with narrower regions providing structural support and wider regions allowing deformation, thereby achieving both manufacturing simplicity and steering stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses curved gap edges with olive-shaped geometry instead of straight or angular cuts. The curved geometry of the gaps provides smoother stress distribution during bending operations, enhancing steering stability while maintaining the simplicity of laser-cut manufacturing. The arc-shaped gap boundaries prevent stress concentration that would occur with sharp corners.
3Length of moving object
If gap length is increased to improve bending arc length, then rotational flexibility is improved, but axial support decreases and rotation stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating gaps with non-uniform width distribution along the circumferential direction. The olive-shaped gap has narrower sections that maintain axial support and wider sections that enable bending, thereby achieving both large bending arc length and rotation stability simultaneously. The varying gap width allows different regions of the same gap to serve different functional purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the gaps, specifically using olive-shaped geometry with varying width along the circumferential direction. This parameter variation allows the gap to provide both large bending arc length (through the wider portions) and rotation stability (through the narrower portions that maintain structural integrity).
Data Source
AI summary
A controllable bending mechanism of an endoscope includes a hollow tube, wherein a plurality of groups of gap sets are disposed on the hollow tube; the plurality of groups of gap sets extend along an axial direction of the hollow tube; each group of gap sets includes a first gap portion and a second gap portion, wherein the first gap portion is distributed in a first circumferential direction of the hollow tube; the second gap portion is distributed in a second circumferential direction of the hollow tube; the first gap portion includes two gaps; the length of each gap is equivalent to 1/2 of that of the circumference; the second gap portion includes two gaps; the length of each gap is equivalent to 1/2 of that of the circumference.