Endoscope Protective Sheath for Bending Section Deformation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes, particularly single-use models with polymer-based bending sections, suffer from deformation during storage and transport due to bending or folding, which can lead to damage to the distal tip units and camera modules, and existing packaging systems fail to adequately protect these components.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope packaging system featuring a protective sheath part that surrounds the bending section and distal tip unit, maintaining their straightness through a custom-fit design, and optionally includes a protection pipe to shield the insertion cord, preventing unwanted bending and collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the endoscope is packaged in a standard packaging system, then the endoscope can be stored and transported, but the bending section deforms due to bending or folding
Solution Approach 1:
A protective sheath is introduced as an intermediary element between the bending section and the external environment. The sheath has an inner circumference adapted to the outer circumference of the bending section, providing mechanical support and preventing deformation during storage and transport without interfering with the endoscope's functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath is designed as a flexible protective structure that can accommodate the bending section while maintaining its straight configuration. The sheath's material and design allow it to provide structural support while being adaptable to the endoscope's form factor.
2Volume of stationary object
If the endoscope packaging system is compact, then storage and transport space is optimized, but the distal tip unit may bump against packaging material
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath is inserted into a protection pipe, creating a nested structure where the distal tip unit and bending section are housed within the sheath, which in turn is housed within the protection pipe. This nested arrangement provides multiple layers of protection while maintaining a compact overall packaging volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sheath and protection pipe are positioned beforehand to cushion and protect the distal tip unit from impacts during transport. The sheath acts as a first line of defense, absorbing and distributing impact forces before they can reach the fragile camera module.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bending section is made from polymer material for single-use endoscopes, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the bending section is prone to permanent deformation during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sheath serves as a mediator that provides external structural support to the polymer-based bending section during storage and transport. This allows the bending section to be made from cost-effective polymer materials while the sheath compensates for the material's lower inherent resistance to permanent deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an endoscope packaging system (1). The endoscope packaging system (1) has an endoscope (2) comprising: an endoscope handle or interface (4); and an insertion cord (6) configured to be inserted into a patient's body cavity and comprising an bending section and a distal tip (12), the bending section comprising a plurality of bending segments (31) made from a polymer material; and a protective sheath part (34) configured to accommodate at least the distal tip (12) and the bending section of the insertion cord (6) of the endoscope (2) and configured to keep the bending section (10) straight during storage and transport.