Endoscope Tip Surface Profile for Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of endoscope tip parts, particularly the articulated tip part, is challenging due to the difficulty in adhering elastic polyolefin materials, which are hard to bond and require complex processes like pressure differentials for tubular sleeve fitting, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The articulated tip part features hingedly connected segments with specific surface profiles having a two-dimensional arithmetical mean height parameter of at least 0.9 micrometres, facilitating easier assembly by reducing friction and adhesion requirements, allowing the tubular sleeve to be manually slid over the segments without pressure differentials, and improving adhesion with other elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If elastic polyolefin material is used for the bending section, then flexibility and elasticity are improved, but adhesion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface treatment to modify the physical-chemical parameters of the polyolefin surface, transforming it from a non-adhesive state to an adhesive state. Specifically, corona discharge treatment or plasma treatment is used to increase the surface energy and create reactive groups on the polyolefin surface, enabling effective bonding with adhesives while preserving the bulk material's flexibility and elasticity.
2Ease of manufacture
If pressure differential is applied to fit tubular sleeve, then assembly is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical assembly process involving pressure differentials with a simpler chemical bonding approach. By treating the surface of the bending section to enhance adhesion, the tubular sleeve can be directly bonded to the segments using adhesive, eliminating the need for vacuum chambers, pressure vessels, or other complex mechanical assembly equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If surface treatment is applied to improve adhesion, then assembly ease is improved, but manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surface treatment is performed as a preliminary step during the manufacturing process, specifically as part of the molding or pre-assembly operations. The corona discharge or plasma treatment is applied to the bending section segments before they are assembled with the tubular sleeve, creating a permanently activated surface that maintains its adhesive properties throughout storage and assembly, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing workflow.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A bendable articulated tip part for an endoscope, comprising a bending section having a number of hingedly connected segments including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment, and a plurality of intermediate segments positioned between the proximal end segment and the distal end segment, wherein at least one segment chosen from the group consisting of the proximal end segment, the distal end segment, and the plurality of intermediate segments includes a surface having an area profile with a two-dimensional, arithmetical mean height parameter, Sa, of at least 0.9 micrometres as measured by the standard ISO 25178.