Endoscope Steering Control Mechanism with Rotational Drive Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope hand controllers have complex steering mechanisms that increase manufacturing costs and are not customizable to user preferences, limiting their adaptability and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a steering control mechanism with a rotational drive wheel system allowing one-way relative rotation of drum elements, adjustable tension in steering wires, and interchangeable casing components to customize the hand controller's fit and feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional steering mechanism is used in the hand controller, then the endoscope can be steered, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The steering mechanism is divided into modular components: a rotational drive wheel with multiple independently rotatable drum elements, where each drum element can be selectively engaged or disengaged. This segmentation allows simplified manufacturing of individual components while maintaining complex steering capabilities through their combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum elements are designed to be dynamically selectable - they can be rotated into engagement with steering wires when needed and disengaged when not needed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain simplicity for basic operations while providing complex steering capabilities when required, reducing both manufacturing complexity and device complexity simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed hand controller design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to user preferences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hand controller is designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions. The rotational drive wheel can engage different drum elements to provide various steering configurations, and the casing can be interchangeably modified with different grip portions. This multi-functionality allows a single base design to adapt to different user preferences without requiring entirely separate designs for each user type.
Solution Approach 2:
The hand controller incorporates dynamic customization capabilities where users can selectively engage different drum elements and interchange casing portions based on their preferences. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to transition from a fixed design to a customizable one without fundamentally changing the core architecture, thereby increasing versatility while controlling complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable tension in steering wires is implemented, then steering precision is improved, but the complexity of the control mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tension adjustment for steering wires is built into the assembly process itself. During manufacturing, the drum elements are rotated to pre-set the appropriate tension in the steering wires before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures precise steering control is achieved during manufacturing rather than requiring complex adjustment mechanisms to be added later, thereby improving steering precision while controlling mechanism complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide a steering control mechanism, an imaging endoscopy system incorporating a steering control mechanism, and a method of assembling a steering control mechanism. The steering control mechanism is configured for controlling bending of a steering section of an endoscope in a first plane via first and second steering wires. It comprises a first rotational drive wheel comprising first and second drive wheel body portions, the first drive wheel body portion comprising a first drum element coupled to the first steering wire, and the second drive wheel body portion comprising a second drum element coupled to the second steering wire. The rotational drive wheel is configured to provide one-way relative rotation of the first drum element and the second drum element.