Endoscope Operation Portion Housing Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope designs face challenges in efficiently housing and organizing components such as the bending drive mechanism, flexible members, and electric parts within the operation portion, leading to interference and reduced workability, which can hinder the bending drive mechanism's operation and make the device difficult to grasp and use for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope features distinct housing regions for the bending drive mechanism, flexible members, and electric parts, with the electric parts housed in a separate region adjacent to both the bending drive and flexible member regions, preventing interference and improving workability, and incorporating a heat management system to isolate heat generation from the grasping area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If components are housed in a compact arrangement to improve packing ratio, then space utilization is improved, but component interference and reduced workability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The operation portion is divided into three distinct housing regions (first, second, and third housing regions) that are spatially separated and organized. Each region houses specific components: the bending drive mechanism in the first region, flexible members in the second region, and electric parts in the third region. This segmentation prevents component interference while maintaining efficient space utilization within the compact operation portion.
2Length of moving object
If the bending drive mechanism is housed close to the grasping area to reduce length, then device compactness is improved, but heat generation affects the grasping portion
Solution Approach 1:
The housing regions are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration within the operation portion. The first housing region (bending drive mechanism) is positioned adjacent to the grasping portion, while the third housing region (electric parts) is located to reduce thermal interference. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions allows the device to remain compact while managing heat distribution to protect the grasping area from excessive temperature.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components are housed in separate regions to prevent interference, then component organization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first, second, and third housing regions are integrated within a single operation portion structure, forming a unified housing that contains all components. This merging approach organizes components in separate functional regions to prevent interference while avoiding the complexity of multiple independent housings. The integrated design simplifies assembly and manufacturing compared to separate housing structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A first housing region A which is provided in the operation portion and in which a bending drive mechanism is housed, a second housing region B which is provided in the operation section and in which a flexible member is housed, and a third housing region C which is provided in the operation portion and in which an electric part is housed are provided, the first housing region A and the second housing region B are located to be lined up in an orthogonal direction Q, and the third housing region C is located to be adjacent to both of the first housing region A and the second housing region B so that a first boundary line T1 is orthogonal to a second boundary line T2.