Endoscope Wire Guard Prevents Pulley Wire Disengagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes face challenges in maintaining the tension of bending operation wires, leading to potential disconnection and breakage during bending operations, which can result in reduced operational reliability and increased risk of mechanical failure.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design incorporates a pulley system with a wire guard that covers the outer peripheral portions of the pulleys, featuring semicircular plate-shaped members and arc-shaped coupling parts, which guide and secure the bending operation wires, preventing them from coming off and reducing the risk of kinking or twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bending operation wire is used to drive the bending portion, then the bending operation can be performed, but the wire may become disconnected or broken due to tension maintenance issues
Solution Approach 1:
A belt is introduced as an intermediary component between the bending operation wire and the pulley. The belt wraps around the pulley and provides a stable interface for wire winding, preventing direct contact between the wire and pulley surface that could cause disconnection or breakage during bending operations
Solution Approach 2:
The belt is designed as a simple, replaceable component that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. This simple structure provides reliable wire tension maintenance without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, accepting that the belt may need periodic replacement rather than designing for indefinite service life
2Reliability
If a chain mechanism is used to eliminate slack, then wire tension can be maintained, but the device becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A simple belt is used instead of a heavy chain mechanism. The belt provides sufficient tension maintenance through its flexibility and ability to wrap around the pulley, achieving the same functional goal with significantly reduced weight and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The complex chain tensioner mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simpler belt-based solution. The essential function of slack elimination is retained while removing unnecessary weight and complexity associated with traditional chain mechanisms
3Ease of operation
If the pulley diameter is larger than the insertion portion inner diameter, then the wire can be effectively wound, but the wire may come off the pulley during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A wire guard is introduced as an intermediary protective structure between the wire and the pulley environment. The wire guard covers the outer peripheral portion of the pulley and includes a guide wall that extends from the contact point where the wire separates from the pulley, preventing the wire from coming off during bending operations
Solution Approach 2:
The wire guard is designed as a protective covering structure that flexibly follows the pulley's outer peripheral shape. This shell-like structure provides continuous protection along the wire's path without interfering with the winding operation, maintaining both ease of operation and wire position stability
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 effectively maintains wire tension and prevents breakage, ensuring reliable and consistent bending operations without the need for additional wire adjustment mechanisms, thereby enhancing the durability and responsiveness of the endoscope.
Implementation Method 1
a pulley provided in the operation portion, having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of the endoscope insertion portion, and configured to wind a wire connected to the bending portion
Implementation Method 2
a wire guard that is arranged to cover a predetermined range of an outer peripheral portion of the pulley, and includes a guide wall arranged to extend within a range of a radius of the pulley from a contact point position at which the wire in contact with the pulley is separated from the pulley in a longitudinal axis direction of the operation portion
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes a pulley provided in an operation portion, having an outer diameter larger than an inner diameter of an endoscope insertion portion, and configured to wind a wire connected to a bending portion; and a wire guard that is arranged to cover a predetermined range of an outer peripheral portion of the pulley, and includes a guide wall arranged to extend within a range of a radius of the pulley from a contact point position at which the wire in contact with the pulley is separated from the pulley in a longitudinal axis direction of the operation portion. The wire guard includes two members each formed in a substantially semicircular plate shape, and coupling parts formed in arc shapes extending from both end portions of the two members and configured to couple the two members.