Endoscope Roller Cover Member with Elastomeric Base Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope apparatuses face challenges in effectively transmitting driving force to assist tools and ensuring the reliable cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of the insertion portion, as well as verifying the authenticity of the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope apparatus with a cover member that includes an elastomeric base layer and a coating layer, which reduces friction and enhances the transmission of rotational driving force while providing a means to visually confirm successful reprocessing and manufacturing authenticity through temperature-sensitive color changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover member is attached to cover the roller, then the roller is protected and driving force transmission is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is constructed as a composite structure with a base layer made of elastomeric material and an external coating layer formed on at least one surface of the base layer. This composite material approach allows the cover member to simultaneously provide friction reduction for driving force transmission while maintaining structural integrity and simplifying the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The base layer is made of elastomeric material that can elastically elongate in the outer surface direction when the roller rotates, allowing the cover member to flexibly adapt to the roller's motion without requiring complex rigid structures. This flexible shell approach simplifies the cover member design while ensuring reliable driving force transmission.
2Reliability
If the base layer is made elastically elongated to cover the rotating roller, then the cover member adapts to roller rotation and improves driving force transmission, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base layer is designed with specific elastomeric properties that allow it to elastically elongate in the outer surface direction during roller rotation. By changing the material parameters (using elastomeric material with appropriate elasticity), the cover member can adapt to roller rotation without requiring high manufacturing precision for rigid dimensional tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric base layer acts as a flexible shell that naturally adapts to the roller's rotation through elastic deformation. This flexibility reduces the need for precise manufacturing tolerances compared to rigid structures, as the material itself compensates for dimensional variations through its elastic properties.
3Reliability
If an external coating layer is formed on the base layer, then friction is reduced and driving force transmission is enhanced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The external coating layer is formed on the base layer to create a composite structure with reduced friction characteristics. This coating layer enhancement provides improved driving force transmission while using established coating technologies that are relatively simple to manufacture, avoiding the need for complex assembly processes.
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
The solution improves the transmission of driving force and ensures effective cleaning and sterilization, while allowing for visual verification of the manufacturing process, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the endoscope apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
portions of the base layer covering the roller as the roller rotates around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion are configured to be elastically elongated in an outer surface direction of the insertion portion
Implementation Method 2
an external coating layer formed on at least one of the outer surface direction side and the inner surface direction side of the base layer
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscope apparatus having: an insertion portion extending along a longitudinal axis; a roller driven by a drive force to rotate around the longitudinal axis; and a cover member covering the roller, wherein the cover member has: a base layer having: an outer surface direction side; and an inner surface direction side arranged to contact the roller, wherein portions of the base layer covering the roller as the roller rotates around the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion elastically elongate in an outer surface direction of the insertion portion, and wherein the base layer has a secondary material being a first color at a first temperature range and a second color at a second temperature range; and an external coating layer formed on at least one of the outer surface direction side and the inner surface direction side of the base layer.