Endoscope Hardness Adjustment Radial Component Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing endoscope designs face challenges in adjusting the hardness of the flexible portion, leading to difficulties in inserting the insertion portion in a target direction and maintaining shape within a body cavity, due to the coil spring and wire arrangement which causes burden on the coil spring and wire, limiting the flexibility and space for built-in components.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope incorporates a hardness adjustment device with a coil spring unit and wire unit, where the base end of the coil spring and wire are apart, and a hardness adjuster with a wire holder, coil spring contact portion, and retainers to adjust the distance between these components, ensuring alignment and reducing the burden on the coil spring and wire, allowing for adjustable hardness of the flexible portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wire fixing portion and fitting portion are arranged on the extension of the coil spring along the axial direction, then the hardness adjustment function is achieved, but the built-in components are damaged by the metal fitting and small-diameter rotary ring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional axial arrangement of the wire fixing portion and fitting portion to a two-dimensional radial arrangement. The wire fixing portion is positioned at a first radial position and the fitting portion at a second radial position, both apart from the center axis in the radial direction. This dimensional change eliminates the need for protruding metal fittings and small-diameter rotary rings that caused damage to built-in components, while maintaining the hardness adjustment function through the coil spring compression mechanism.
2Reliability
If the wire fixing portion is provided at a tip end of a metal fitting protruding from the inner wall surface, then the wire can be securely fixed, but the arrangement space for built-in components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the wire fixing portion from a protruding axial position to a radial position apart from the center axis. This allows the wire to be securely fixed without requiring long axial protrusions that would encroach on the arrangement space of built-in components. The wire fixing portion can be positioned at an optimal radial distance from the center axis, providing secure fixation while preserving internal space.
3Device complexity
If a small-diameter rotary ring is used at the fitting portion, then the hardness adjustment mechanism fits within the flexible portion, but the built-in components are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the fitting portion from a small-diameter axial structure to a radially positioned structure at a second radial position. This eliminates the need for a small-diameter rotary ring that would be required to fit within the constrained axial space. The radial positioning allows for a larger, more robust fitting portion that can be operated without damaging built-in components, while the overall mechanism remains compact through the coil spring compression approach.
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 configuration ensures sufficient space for built-in components, reduces the burden on the coil spring and wire, and allows for effective adjustment of the flexible portion's hardness, enhancing the endoscope's operational efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a coil spring unit including a coil spring provided to extend from the flexible portion to the operation portion
Implementation Method 2
a wire unit provided to extend from the flexible portion to the operation portion and including a wire inserted into the coil spring
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an endoscope and a hardness adjustment device configured so that an arrangement space of built-in components in an operation portion can be ensured and that burden on a coil spring and a wire can be reduced. In an operation portion, a retained portion of a coil spring unit is retained at a first radial position by a coil spring holder as a first retainer, and a base end portion of a wire unit is retained at a second radial position by a wire holder as a second retainer. A base end portion of the coil spring unit is retained at a third radial position by a coil spring contact portion as a third retainer.