Endoscope Treatment Tool Coupling Mechanism for Image Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgery devices face challenges in maintaining stable depth perception and preventing image shake during back-and-forth movements of treatment tools, particularly when the tool's distal end moves within the visual field, and there is a lack of synchronized movement between endoscopes and treatment tools within the same outer tube.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic surgery device featuring an endoscope and treatment tool that move in interlock within an outer tube, with a predetermined allowance amount, allowing the endoscope to remain stationary during small amplitude movements of the treatment tool while synchronizing movements during larger amplitudes, using a coupling member with specific friction forces to ensure smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the endoscope and treatment tool are inserted through separate opening portions in the body wall, then the number of insertion holes increases, but the independence of operation is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the endoscope and treatment tool into a single outer tube structure, allowing both instruments to be inserted through one common opening portion in the body wall. This merging approach reduces the number of insertion holes while maintaining the ability to operate both tools independently through their respective inner tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the endoscope and treatment tool are housed within a common outer tube. Each tool has its own inner tube that can move independently within the shared outer tube, creating a nested configuration that consolidates multiple insertion paths into a single external opening.
2Extent of automation
If the endoscope synchronously moves with the treatment tool, then the assistant's operation becomes unnecessary, but the observation image may shake or move slightly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic coupling mechanism between the endoscope and treatment tool that allows for relative movement absorption. The coupling member is designed to transmit movement signals from the treatment tool to the endoscope while incorporating flexibility to absorb slight positional deviations, thereby maintaining image stability during synchronized operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling member as an intermediary element between the treatment tool and endoscope. This mediator component facilitates the transmission of movement commands while providing a buffer that prevents direct transmission of slight movements that could cause image shaking, thus maintaining both automation and image stability.
3Ease of operation
If the distal end of the treatment tool moves in the axial direction, then the observation target position changes, but depth perception becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the movement of the treatment tool's distal end in the axial direction is detected and used to adjust the endoscope's observation angle or position. This feedback loop allows the system to compensate for depth perception loss by providing visual information about the treatment tool's position relative to the observation target.
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 provides a stable observation image without shake during small amplitude movements and allows for desired image adjustments during large amplitude movements, enhancing operability by maintaining depth perception and allowing surgeons to easily obtain the desired image.
Implementation Method 1
a coupling member which couples the insertion part of the endoscope and the insertion part of the treatment tool, wherein the coupling member includes: a first movable object which includes an endoscope holding member that holds the insertion part of the endoscope and is configured to move back and forth in an integral manner with the insertion part of the endoscope; and a second movable object which includes a treatment tool holding member that holds the insertion part of the treatment tool and is configured to move back and forth in an integral manner with the insertion part of the treatment tool, and one of the first movable object and the second movable object is configured to move back and forth with the allowance amount in interlock with the back-and-forth movement of another one of the first movable object and the second movable object
Data Source
AI summary
An insertion part of an endoscope and an insertion part of a treatment tool, which are inserted in an outer tube, can be synchronously moved in the axial direction, and, even when the insertion part of the treatment tool is slightly moved in the axial direction, an excellent endoscopic image without shake is obtained. When a treatment tool of an endoscopic surgery device moves by a displacement amount over an allowance amount, an endoscope moves in interlock with the movement of the treatment tool. Moreover, the treatment tool 50 moves in the axial direction with the allowance amount t with respect to the endoscope 10. Therefore, when the treatment tool is moved by a displacement amount of allowance amount or less, the endoscope does not move. By providing such allowance amount, slight movement of the treatment tool is not transmitted to the endoscope.