Endoscope Rear Grasping Movable Joint Cable Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face challenges in enhancing insertability and operability, particularly in accessing target regions like urinary organs or nasal cavities, due to limitations in the design of the operation and grasping portions, which can lead to strain on the surgeon's wrist and potential bowing of the insertion portion, affecting responsiveness and durability.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope features a rear grasping portion extending along a flexed second longitudinal axis relative to the operation portion body, with a movable joint and bend preventing portion that adjusts the direction of the universal cable, allowing for improved grasping and reduced strain by orienting the bend preventing portion to either the inner or outer side in the flexion direction, enhancing operability and preventing unnecessary bowing of the insertion portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operation portion is designed with a fixed L-shape grasping portion, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the surgeon's wrist may experience strain and the insertion portion may bow, reducing operability and responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tube portion movable relative to the rear grasping portion through a movable joint portion. This allows the tube portion to pivot around a pivot axis, enabling the universal cable to be oriented in different directions (inner side or outer side in the flexion direction) based on surgical needs, thereby reducing wrist strain while maintaining structural adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operation portion into distinct functional components: the rear grasping portion, the movable joint portion, and the tube portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the movable joint portion serving as a pivot point that enables directional adjustment of the universal cable without compromising the overall structural integrity
2Reliability
If the universal cable is fixed in direction, then the structure is stable and simple, but the insertion portion may experience unnecessary bowing, affecting durability and followability
Solution Approach 1:
The movable joint portion enables the tube portion to pivot dynamically, allowing the universal cable to be oriented optimally to prevent unnecessary bowing of the insertion portion. This dynamic adjustment capability enhances the durability and followability of the insertion portion by eliminating fixed directional constraints that could cause mechanical stress
Solution Approach 2:
The movable joint portion acts as an intermediary mechanism between the rear grasping portion and the tube portion. It provides a pivot axis that mediates the directional orientation of the universal cable, allowing adjustment to prevent insertion portion bowing while maintaining structural connectivity and functional integrity
Data Source
AI summary
In an endoscope including a rear grasping portion extending along a second longitudinal axis that is a direction flexed relative to a first longitudinal axis along which the operation portion body extends, a bend preventing portion covering a universal cable extending out from the proximal end side of the rear grasping portion is joined to the proximal end side of the rear grasping portion via a movable joint portion so that a direction of the bend preventing portion can be changed by the movable joint portion to a first direction oriented to the inner side in the flexion direction of the rear grasping portion relative to the operation portion body and a second direction oriented to the outer side in the flexion direction of the rear grasping portion relative to operation portion body.