Endoscope Support Body Segmented Annular Space Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with rigid shafts face issues due to the high weight of the metal support body, which affects user-friendliness, and the mechanical sensitivity of the adhesive bond between the inner and outer shaft tubes, leading to potential cracking and damage to optical fibers during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design includes a tubular support body with webs that divide the annular space into segments, separating optical fibers and electrical connecting elements, allowing for safe insertion and absorption of assembly forces, and using an injection-molded plastic support body with a metal ring for secure bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal support body with complex outer contour is used, then structural strength and hermetic sealing are improved, but weight increases significantly affecting user-friendliness
Solution Approach 1:
The support body material is changed from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the material parameter to reduce weight while maintaining structural functionality. This parameter change allows the support body to fulfill its structural and sealing roles without the excessive weight of metal materials.
2Productivity
If optical fibers are drawn between inner and outer shaft tubes before electrical connecting element insertion, then assembly sequence is simplified, but optical fibers may be damaged by the electrical connecting element
Solution Approach 1:
The annular space is divided into multiple segments using webs, which spatially separate the optical fibers from the electrical connecting element. This segmentation allows both components to coexist in the same assembly space without interfering with each other, enabling simplified assembly sequence while protecting optical fibers from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The webs act as intermediary structures that physically separate and protect the optical fibers from the electrical connecting element. These intermediary partitions create independent pathways for each component, preventing direct contact that could cause damage while maintaining overall assembly compactness.
3Reliability
If adhesive is used to hermetically seal the annular space between shaft tubes, then hermetic sealing is achieved, but the bond is mechanically sensitive and may crack under assembly forces
Solution Approach 1:
The webs are installed beforehand to provide mechanical reinforcement and force distribution in the annular space. This beforehand cushioning structure prevents concentrated assembly forces from directly impacting the adhesive bond, thereby protecting the hermetic seal from cracking while maintaining sealing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope including an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft including: an inner shaft tube in which an optical system is received; an outer shaft assembly including an outer shaft tube and a tubular support body proximally abutting the outer shaft tube; at least one bundle of optical fibers disposed between the inner shaft tube and the outer shaft tube; and an electrical connector arranged between the inner shaft tube and the support body. Where the support body includes at least a first web and a second web each extending radially between an inner surface of the support body and an outer surface of the inner shaft tube, the first web and the second web also extending in a longitudinal direction of the shaft such that an annular space between the inner shaft tube and the support body is divided into at least two segments.