Endoscope Main Body with Detachable Optical System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope designs face challenges in efficiently bending arm sections and maintaining operability during procedures, particularly when using a single endoscope with multiple arm sections and optical systems, as they require complex wire arrangements and limited flexibility, which complicates surgical instrument insertion and optical system maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope main body incorporates a detachable observation optical system with a branch member that allows independent operation of multiple bending portions and arm sections, using wires and channel tubes to facilitate flexible arm movement and separate operation of surgical instruments, while enabling easy detachment and cleaning of the optical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wires are attached to each arm section and bending portion to enable flexible bending, then the flexibility and bending capability of the arm sections are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase due to complex wire arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into separate functional modules: the insertion section with arm sections, the operating section with wire manipulation mechanisms, and the observation optical system. Each bending portion has dedicated wires that can be independently controlled, allowing complex bending motions to be achieved through coordinated manipulation of separate wire groups rather than a single complex wire system
Solution Approach 2:
The operating section acts as an intermediary between the operator and the arm sections. Wire manipulation mechanisms (such as wire reels or pulley systems) are provided in the operating section to control the wires attached to each bending portion, enabling precise and independent control of multiple bending actions without requiring direct manual manipulation of numerous wires
2Productivity
If a single endoscope with multiple arm sections and optical systems is used to perform procedures, then the productivity and procedural efficiency are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to limited flexibility and complex control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The arm sections are designed with multiple independently controllable bending portions that can be dynamically adjusted during the procedure. Each bending portion responds to wire manipulation at the operating section, allowing real-time adaptation of the arm configuration to match procedural requirements. This dynamic control enables the single endoscope to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require multiple rigidly configured endoscopes
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion section with multiple arm sections and the observation optical system integrated into the endoscope main body enables a single device to perform multiple surgical functions. The arm sections can be positioned to accommodate various surgical instruments, while the observation optical system provides continuous visualization, allowing one endoscope to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized instruments
3Reliability
If the observation optical system is integrated into the endoscope main body, then the reliability and stability of the system are improved, but the ease of repair and cleaning deteriorates due to difficulty in separating components for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The observation optical system is designed as a separable module that can be detached from the endoscope main body. The insertion section includes a distal end that can be separated from the proximal end where the operating section is located, allowing the optical system to be removed for cleaning, disinfection, or replacement while leaving the main body intact
Solution Approach 2:
The observation optical system is extracted as a removable component from the endoscope main body. This extraction capability allows the optical system to be taken out for separate maintenance, cleaning, or sterilization processes without disassembling the entire endoscope, thereby simplifying the maintenance procedure while maintaining system reliability during operation
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope main body constituting an endoscope in a state in which an elongated detachable observation optical system is attached to the endoscope main body, and in a proximal end of an insertion section of the endoscope main body, a branch member is disposed. The branch member is provided so that a first extended section and a second extended section are branched from each other and thereby first and second operating sections are separately arranged. Furthermore, the branch member has an opening as an inlet which guides an imaging module in a distal end of the observation optical system to a hard portion of the insertion section.