Endoscope Insertion Portion with Rotating Thrust Generating Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inserting a flexible endoscope insertion portion into complex body cavities, such as the large intestine, is challenging due to difficulty in maintaining direction and requires skilled operators to avoid insertion difficulties.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope apparatus with a flexible insertion portion featuring a thrust generating portion on its outer surface, rotated by a motor-driven rotation device, which adjusts rotational speed based on insertion length to facilitate smooth insertion, utilizing a spiral propelling tube to generate sufficient thrust for navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible insertion portion is used to navigate complex body cavities, then adaptability to bending paths is improved, but control of insertion direction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is divided into multiple rigid sections (first, second, third insertion portions) with different degrees of rigidity. The proximal section has higher rigidity for operator control, while distal sections have lower rigidity for navigation, creating local quality differences that resolve the contradiction between controllability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion portion employs a dynamically adjustable structure where the relative positions and orientations of rigid sections can change during insertion. This allows the scope to adapt to bending paths while maintaining operator control through the more rigid proximal sections.
2Ease of operation
If the insertion portion is made more rigid for better directional control, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to complex bending paths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is segmented into multiple rigid sections connected in series, allowing each segment to contribute differently to overall control and adaptability. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both directional control and bending adaptability simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If manual insertion techniques are used, then device complexity is reduced, but insertion speed and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is designed to propel itself through the body cavity using its segmented rigid structure, reducing the need for complex external propulsion mechanisms while maintaining efficient insertion speed.
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
Enables smooth and efficient insertion into deep body cavities with automatic adjustment of rotational speed, reducing operator skill requirements and improving insertion speed and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a thrust generating portion for generating a thrust by rotation, formed beyond a predetermined length on an outer-peripheral surface of the insertion portion in a longitudinal-axis direction; a rotation device for rotating the thrust generating portion around the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus comprises an insertion portion having an observation optical system attached onto the distal end portion thereof and having flexibility, a thrust generating portion for generating a thrust by rotation, formed beyond a predetermined length on an outer-peripheral surface of the insertion portion in a longitudinal-axis direction, a rotation device for rotating the thrust generating portion around the longitudinal axis, and a control portion for controlling a rotational speed of the thrust generating portion according to an insertion length of the thrust generating portion inserted in a subject.