Endoscope Hook Mechanism for Single-Hand Visual Field Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In endoscopic surgery, surgeons face challenges in operating both the endoscope and treatment tools simultaneously, leading to prolonged surgery times and increased stress due to the need for assistants to adjust the endoscope's position, which can interfere with the surgical procedure and complicate operations.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope with a flexible cable featuring a hooking part that allows surgeons to perform forward and backward movements without releasing their hands from the treatment tool, enabling interlocking movement with the treatment tool while preventing interference, and an interlocking mechanism within the overtube to adjust the endoscope's visual field without manual assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the endoscope and treatment tool are operated by different people (surgeon and assistant), then the surgeon can focus on treatment tool operation, but the endoscope operation requires sequential instructions and increases surgery time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveendoscope operationVSAvoidsurgery time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the endoscope and treatment tool into a single integrated device, allowing the surgeon to operate both functions simultaneously with one hand. The endoscope portion includes an observation unit and the treatment tool portion includes a treatment unit, both controlled through a unified operating mechanism that eliminates the need for separate operations by different personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device enables the surgeon to perform multiple functions (observation and treatment) using a single device. The endoscope can be positioned and operated independently while the treatment tool remains integrated, allowing the surgeon to switch between observation modes and treatment modes without requiring an assistant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the endoscope position is adjusted frequently to change visual field, then the observation can be optimized, but the treatment tool operation may be interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual field adjustmentVSAvoidtreatment tool operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into distinct functional segments: an endoscope portion for observation and a treatment tool portion for treatment. Each segment can be independently controlled through separate operating mechanisms, allowing the surgeon to adjust the endoscope position for optimal visual field without affecting the treatment tool operation, and vice versa.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities where the endoscope and treatment tool can be independently adjusted during procedures. The operating mechanisms allow real-time repositioning of the endoscope to change visual fields while maintaining stable treatment tool operation, enabling adaptive response to varying surgical needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If two separate insertion passages are used in the overtube, then the endoscope and treatment tool can be inserted simultaneously, but the external diameter of the overtube increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneous insertion capabilityVSAvoidovertube external diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested configuration where the endoscope and treatment tool are inserted through a single insertion passage in a nested arrangement. The endoscope portion and treatment tool portion are positioned concentrically within the overtube, allowing both instruments to be inserted simultaneously through one passage without increasing the external diameter of the overtube.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3123966B1Endoscope and endoscope operational tool
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3123966B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3123966B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3123966B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an endoscopic surgical device, an endoscope, and an endoscope operating tool capable of changing a visual field suitable for detailed observation and treatment and improving surgical efficiency, in a configuration in which the endoscope and a treatment tool inserted through two insertion passages provided in an overtube are operable in an interlocking manner each other. An endoscope 100 and a treatment tool 200 are respectively inserted through an endoscope insertion passage and a treatment tool insertion passage of an overtube 300 inserted into a body wall. A forward and backward movement operating part 130 provided in a cable part 104 provided to extend from a base end of an endoscope insertion part 102 of the endoscope 100 is arranged at a position adjacent to an operating part 204 of the treatment tool 200. The forward and backward movement operating part 130 includes a hook part 132 having an opening 134, and a forward and backward movement operation of the endoscope 100 can be performed by passing the index finger of a right hand gripping the treatment tool 200 through the opening 134. Therefore, the forward and backward movement operation of the endoscope 100 can be performed with the forward and backward movement operation of the treatment tool 200 using only the one hand that operates the treatment tool 200.