Endoscope Orientation Stabilization in Rotating Overtube

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Solution Overview

Problem

In endoscopic surgery, rotating the overtube relative to the outer sheath causes the endoscopic image to change perspective, making it difficult to maintain a stable view on the monitor.

Innovation Solution

The surgery system incorporates a biasing member with a gravity center position eccentric from the endoscope's central axis, generating a rotational moment that maintains the endoscope's circumferential orientation, and includes a movable body with restricting parts to allow interlocking movement of the endoscope and treatment tool along the longitudinal axis, preventing changes in the image perspective during overtube rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the overtube is rotated relative to the outer sheath to change the protruding position of the treatment tool, then the treatment tool position can be adjusted, but the endoscope rotates together causing the endoscopic image perspective to change and become difficult to see

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment tool position adjustmentVSAvoidendoscopic image stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the rotation function into two independent parts: the overtube can rotate independently relative to the outer sheath, while the endoscope remains fixed in orientation. This is achieved by allowing the overtube to rotate within the outer sheath without causing the endoscope to rotate, thus enabling treatment tool position adjustment while maintaining stable endoscopic image perspective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the endoscope is held fixed in the overtube, then the endoscopic image remains stable, but the treatment tool cannot be repositioned by rotating the overtube

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveendoscopic image stabilityVSAvoidtreatment tool positioning flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic positioning where the overtube can rotate independently to adjust the treatment tool's protruding position on the endoscopic image, while the endoscope maintains its fixed orientation. This dynamic separation allows the treatment tool to be repositioned flexibly without affecting the stability of the endoscopic image, achieving both adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This configuration ensures a stable endoscopic image by maintaining the endoscope's orientation and preventing fluctuations in the image size and perspective, even when the overtube rotates, allowing for effective observation and treatment within the body cavity.

Implementation Method 1

the biasing member has a gravity center position at a position eccentric from the central axis of the endoscope. Accordingly, the rotational moment can be generated around the central axis of the endoscope in a case where the overtube has rotated around the longitudinal axis.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3400891B1Surgical system
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3400891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3400891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3400891B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Provided is a surgery system that can suppress a change in perspective of an endoscopic image on a monitor even in a case where an overtube has rotated. The surgery system includes an overtube that has a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis and holds a treatment tool and an endoscope so as to be movable forward and backward in a direction of the longitudinal axis. The overtube has an endoscope holding part that has an endoscope holding surface for holding the endoscope and allowing circumferential rotation of the endoscope about a central axis of the endoscope, and a treatment tool holding part that has a treatment tool holding surface for holding the treatment tool. The surgery system further includes an endoscope that is inserted into the overtube and has a held surface held by the endoscope holding surface. The endoscope has an orientation maintaining part that maintains the circumferential orientation of the endoscope even in a case where the overtube rotates around the longitudinal axis.