Endoscope Liquid Supply Tube Mounting for Rapid Tube Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid supply devices for endoscopes require labor-intensive adjustments for attaching and detaching liquid supply tubes due to the need for precise positioning and length adjustments of the winding portion, complicating the interchange of different types of tubes.

Innovation Solution

A liquid supply device with a rotor and rollers that includes stopper parts and restriction portions for easy attachment and detachment of liquid supply tubes, utilizing a housing case with engagement mechanisms to secure the stopper parts and maintain tube position during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the liquid supply tube is wound around the rotor without stopper parts and restriction portions, then the device structure is simple, but the tube position cannot be securely fixed requiring labor-intensive adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of tube attachment and detachmentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper parts are pre-formed on the liquid supply tube at positions corresponding to the winding portion, and the restriction portions are pre-formed on the liquid supply device body. When the tube is attached, these pre-formed features automatically engage to secure the tube position without requiring additional adjustment operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper parts and restriction portions are designed to automatically engage with each other when the liquid supply tube is wound around the rotor. The tube's own stopper parts interact with the device body's restriction portions to self-secure the tube in the correct position, eliminating the need for manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the liquid supply tube lacks stopper parts and restriction portions, then the tube structure is simple, but interchangeability between different tube types is not considered leading to adjustment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetube interchangeabilityVSAvoidtube structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper parts and restriction portions are designed with standardized geometries that can accommodate multiple types of liquid supply tubes. The first and second stopper parts work together with corresponding restriction portions to create a universal attachment interface that supports tube interchangeability across different tube types while maintaining consistent positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If manual adjustment of winding portion length and position is required, then attachment flexibility is maintained, but labor and time are required for adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment speedVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper parts are pre-positioned on the tube and the restriction portions are pre-positioned on the device body at the correct locations. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual adjustment of the winding portion length and position during attachment, enabling rapid tube changes without time loss for adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates simple and efficient attachment and detachment of liquid supply tubes, allowing for easy interchange and stable liquid supply operations without the need for manual adjustments, enhancing operational convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid supply device body that sends liquid by rotating a rotor, which includes a plurality of rollers provided on an outer peripheral portion thereof, and squeezing a liquid supply tube with the rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Data Source

PatentEP3797674B1Liquid supply device for endoscope, liquid supply tube, and liquid supply device body
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3797674B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3797674B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3797674B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided a liquid supply device for an endoscope which a liquid supply tube can be easily attached to and detached from, the liquid supply tube, and a liquid supply device body. The liquid supply device for an endoscope includes a liquid supply device body that sends liquid by squeezing a liquid supply tube with rollers; the liquid supply tube includes a winding portion, a stopper part that is provided to be closer to a liquid destination side than the winding portion and protrudes in a radial direction of the tube orthogonal to an axial direction of the liquid supply tube, and a stopper part that is provided to be closer to a liquid source side than the winding portion and protrudes in the radial direction of the tube; and the liquid supply device body includes a restriction portion that is engaged with the stopper part and restricts the position of the stopper part, and a restriction portion that is engaged with the stopper part and restricts the position of the stopper part.