Endoscope Lever Structure for Wider Maintenance Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes have limited operation ranges for operation levers, leading to interference during disassembly and repair work, restricting efficient workability.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design with a lever that can transition between a first state where it contacts a stopper and a second state where it does not, allowing a wider movable range, facilitated by a projection and a bearing formed by joining holes, enabling the lever to turn around a rotation axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper mechanism is provided to restrict the operation range of the lever, then the lever can be prevented from excessive movement during normal use, but the operation range is limited and workability during maintenance tasks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed to be deformable between a first state where it contacts the stopper and a second state where it does not contact the stopper. This dynamic configuration allows the operation range to be adjusted based on whether the endoscope is in normal use or maintenance mode, resolving the contradiction between preventing excessive movement and enabling wide movement range for maintenance tasks
2Strength
If the operation range is restricted for normal use, then the lever is protected from damage, but the ability to perform maintenance tasks like disassembly and repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable lever allows the endoscope to present different operational characteristics depending on its state. During normal use, the lever contacts the stopper providing protection. During maintenance, the lever can be deformed to a second state where it does not contact the stopper, allowing wider movement range for disassembly and repair tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The lever serves multiple functions: it operates the movable member during normal use with stopper contact for protection, and enables maintenance tasks when deformed to the second state without stopper contact for wider movement range, making the structure universally applicable to both operational and maintenance requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscope 1 of the invention includes an insertion section 2 including a movable member 54, and an operation section 3 including a lever 10 and a stopper 3xd, 3xu, and provided on a proximal end side of the insertion section. The movable member is configured to be movable in a first direction. The lever is held to be turnable around a first rotation axis Ax, the lever being configured to turn to move the movable member. The stopper comes into contact with the lever when the lever is located at a first position. The lever is deformed between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state in which the lever comes into contact with the stopper at the first position. The second state is a state in which the lever does not come into contact with the stopper at the first position.