Endoscope Probe Modular Coil Housing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope insertion shape observation probes face challenges in simplifying the setup of multiple magnetic coils, leading to complex assembly and maintenance, which increases costs and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing section with a recessed shape to house electronic components, featuring a pair of electric connection sections and attaching-direction defining terminal sections, allowing for simplified setting and improved assemblability of multiple coil units, enabling easy attachment and detachment, and reducing maintenance costs by allowing individual coil unit replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple magnetic coil units are disposed in a tube at intervals as one elongated probe, then the endoscope insertion shape can be observed, but the setting of multiple magnetic coils becomes complex and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into multiple independent coil unit assemblies, each containing a magnetic coil unit and its housing. This segmentation allows each coil unit to be set and maintained independently, reducing the overall complexity of setting multiple magnetic coils while maintaining the observation capability through the array of segmented units.
2Reliability
If multiple magnetic coil units are disposed in a tube at intervals as one elongated probe, then the endoscope insertion shape can be observed, but maintenance costs increase due to difficulty in replacement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the probe into independent coil unit assemblies with standardized interfaces, defective coil units can be quickly identified and replaced without affecting other units. This modular approach significantly improves ease of repair and reduces maintenance costs compared to a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing sections are pre-configured with recesses and attachment structures that accommodate coil units in predetermined positions. This preliminary preparation of the housing structure enables rapid replacement of defective coil units without complex alignment procedures, further improving maintenance efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If a recessed housing section is used to house electronic components, then assemblability is improved, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing section with its recessed structure serves multiple functions: it houses the electronic components, provides attachment structures for coil units, defines precise positions through grooves, and ensures proper orientation through attaching-direction defining terminal sections. This multi-functionality improves assemblability while the structural complexity is justified by the integrated design.
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 simplifies the setting of multiple magnetic coils, enhances assemblability, and reduces maintenance costs by allowing for easy replacement of defective coil units, thereby improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the endoscope insertion shape observation probe.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of coil units are provided in an endoscope insertion shape observation probe disposed in an endoscope insertion section and magnetic fields generated by the plurality of magnetic coil units are detected by magnetic-field detecting means provided outside an endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope insertion shape observation probe that is elongatedly formed along a longitudinal axis direction and is insertable into a channel provided in an endoscope insertion section or is incorporated in the endoscope insertion section includes an electronic component, a housing section having a recessed shape that houses the electronic component, a pair of electric connection sections provided in the housing section, a pair of electric connection terminal sections provided in the electronic component and engaged with and electrically connected to the electric connection sections, the electric connection terminal sections mechanically holding the electronic component in the housing section, a groove section formed in the housing section, and two attaching-direction defining terminal sections provided in the electronic component, the attaching-direction defining terminal sections engaging into the groove section and defining a direction around a longitudinal axis in which the electronic component is attached to the housing section.