Endoscope Rigid Shaft Smooth Surface Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with rigid curved shafts face difficulties in cleaning and sterilization due to the accumulation of dirt in the indentations and edges of the multi-part instrument and optics tubes, making them prone to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A design featuring a one-piece instrument tube with a smooth, multi-part sheath tube that envelops both the instrument and optics modules, providing a continuous outer surface for easy cleaning and manufacturing, with welds ground to create a seamless surface, and an optional third part forming the distal end for enhanced sealing and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multi-part instrument and optics tubes are used to form the rigid shaft, then the endoscope can be manufactured with modular components, but the indentations and edges created by multiple parts cause dirt accumulation and make cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate tubes (instrument tube and optics tube) into a single integrated shaft structure with a smooth outer surface. This eliminates the indentations and edges that would otherwise exist at the junctions of multiple parts, thereby preventing dirt accumulation while maintaining the modular manufacturing advantage through separate assembly of internal components within the unified shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different surface quality requirements to different regions: the outer surface of the shaft is designed to be smooth and continuous for easy cleaning, while the internal structure can maintain modular construction with separate instrument and optics channels. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring the cleaning-critical surface is smooth while allowing modular manufacturing internally.
2Strength
If the instrument tube and optics tube are connected to form a rigid shaft, then structural integrity is improved, but the resulting edges and indentations create areas where dirt accumulates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional tubes into a single integrated shaft that maintains structural integrity while eliminating junction edges. The unified shaft design ensures continuous structural strength throughout the rigid shaft portion while the smooth outer surface prevents dirt accumulation at connection points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a smoothly curved outer surface design for the rigid shaft, eliminating sharp edges and indentations at tube connections. The continuous curved surface geometry prevents dirt accumulation while maintaining the necessary structural rigidity for the endoscope shaft.
3Ease of operation
If a smooth outer surface is created by enveloping the multi-part tubes, then cleaning ease is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the need to assemble multiple parts seamlessly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the internal structure into separate instrument and optics channels while maintaining a unified smooth outer shaft. This allows internal modular construction for ease of assembly and manufacturing, while the external smooth surface provides easy cleaning. The segmentation is hidden internally, presenting a simple external form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the separate instrument tube and optics tube within the unified shaft structure, with each functional tube positioned inside the smooth outer shaft. This nesting arrangement allows the internal components to be manufactured and assembled separately while presenting a seamless smooth outer surface that is easy to clean, effectively hiding the manufacturing complexity internally.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An endoscope is provided with a main body (2) and a rigid shaft (3) extending from the main body (2), the shaft having a straight first section (5), a curved second section (6) adjoining the second section (6), and a third section (7) adjoining the second section (6), which forms a distal end (4) of the shaft (3), wherein the shaft (3) for receiving an instrument (37) has a one-piece instrument tube (11) extending to the distal end (4) of the shaft (3) and having an open end (12) therein, and an optical module (26) by means of which an image of an area in front of the distal end (4) of the shaft (3) can be received, and wherein a sheath tube (10) extending from the main body (2) to the distal end (4) is provided.in which the instrument tube (11) and the optical module (26) are arranged and which has a straight part (32) for the first section (5) and a curved part (33) connected to the straight part (32) for the second section (6).