Endoscope Tip Assembly FPC Converter Board Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope tip part assemblies face challenges in achieving a small outer diameter while maintaining electrical insulation and mechanical stability, especially when incorporating both a camera and a working channel, which complicates access to narrow body cavities and increases the risk of electrical conduction to the patient.
Innovation Solution
The tip part assembly incorporates a flexible printed circuit (FPC) connected to a converter circuit board, allowing the FPC to be positioned behind the camera module instead of folding above it, reducing the housing height and diameter, and utilizing a converter circuit board with different connection point patterns to facilitate this arrangement, thereby enhancing electrical insulation and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the FPC is folded above the camera module to connect, then the electrical connection is achieved, but the housing height and diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by moving the FPC connection from above the camera module to behind it, utilizing the depth dimension rather than the height dimension. This dimensional shift reduces the housing height and diameter while maintaining all necessary electrical connections through the converter circuit board's multiple connection points.
2Volume of moving object
If the tip part assembly diameter is reduced to access narrow body cavities, then patient comfort improves, but the risk of electrical conduction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The converter circuit board acts as an intermediary component with multiple connection points that enables compact FPC routing behind the camera module. This intermediary structure maintains proper electrical insulation and connection reliability while allowing the tip part assembly to achieve a smaller diameter for safer patient use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both camera and working channel are included in the tip part assembly, then functional versatility is improved, but the cross-sectional extent increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the depth dimension behind the camera module to route the FPC and accommodate the working channel, rather than expanding in the radial cross-sectional direction. This allows both the camera and working channel to coexist in a compact arrangement that maintains small cross-sectional extent while preserving functional versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a tip part assembly for an endoscope, comprising: a flexible printed circuit having two or more connection points, a camera module comprising a connection surface comprising two or more connection points for electrical communication of the camera module with the connection points of the flexible printed circuit, the connection points of the connection surface being arranged in a first connection point pattern, and a converter circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface of the converter circuit board comprising connection points similarly arranged substantially in the first connection point pattern so that positions of the first surface connection points correspond to the connection surface connection points, the second surface of the converter circuit board comprising connection points arranged in a second connection point pattern, the second connection point pattern being different from the first connection point pattern, wherein the first surface connection points are connected to the connection surface connection points so that positions of the first surface connection points correspond to associated positions of the connection surface connection points, and wherein the second surface connection points are connected to the connection points of the flexible printed circuit. This disclosure further relates to a method for assembling a tip part assembly and an endoscope.