Endoscopic Basket Wire Retention With a Perpendicular Rib
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing basket-type treatment tools for endoscopes face issues such as wire damage due to high-temperature joining methods, difficulty in manufacturing, and enlarged tip diameter obstructing the endoscope's field of view.
Innovation Solution
A basket-type treatment tool design that retains basket wires using a perpendicular columnar rib to fix turned-back wire portions without welding, allowing easy assembly and preventing damage from heat and external forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high-temperature joining methods (silver brazing, welding, soldering) are used to join basket wires to the distal end tip, then the joining strength is improved, but the wire is damaged due to heat transmission and deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal joining methods (silver brazing, welding, soldering) with a mechanical joining system consisting of a distal end tip with an internal diameter portion that mechanically retains the basket wire through friction and geometric constraints, eliminating heat transmission damage to the wire
Solution Approach 2:
The distal end tip acts as an intermediary component between the basket wire and the flexible sheath, providing a mechanical retention mechanism that avoids direct thermal contact between the joining process and the wire, thus protecting wire integrity while achieving secure attachment
2Ease of manufacture
If adhesive agents are used to join basket wires, then the joining process is simplified, but the wire is damaged due to deterioration of the adhesive agent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical joining methods (adhesive agents) with a mechanical retention system where the internal diameter portion of the distal end tip physically constrains the basket wire through friction and geometric fit, eliminating adhesive deterioration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
3Reliability
If four short tubes are used to retain basket wires as in patent literature 2, then the wires are securely retained, but the entire outer diameter of the tip is enlarged making it out of the field of view of the endoscope
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple short tubes into a single integrated distal end tip with an internal diameter portion, consolidating the wire retention mechanism into one compact component that maintains secure wire retention while minimizing the tip's outer diameter to stay within the endoscope's field of view
4Reliability
If cauling force is applied to join wires by a tip, then the wires are retained, but the wire is injured by external pressure and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the internal diameter portion of the distal end tip with specific dimensional characteristics that provide appropriate retention force at the wire-contact interface while distributing external pressure evenly, preventing localized stress concentrations that would injure the wire
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
The tool effectively prevents wire damage and maintains a small tip diameter, ensuring easy manufacturing and effective stone retrieval without obstructing the endoscope's view.
Implementation Method 1
the distal end tip retains the turned-back portion formed by turning back an approximately center portion of the basket wires on an approximately columnar first rib, the approximately columnar first rib fixed in a perpendicular direction to a tube axis of the distal end tip
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3A~4B
AI summary
To provide a basket-type treatment instrument for an endoscope such that wires constituting a basket are not liable to be damaged. A basket-type treatment instrument 1 for an endoscope having a basket part 40 formed such that a plurality of basket wires 41, 42 elastically expand or contract radially, wherein folded-back parts 41a, 42a formed by folding back substantially center portions of the basket wires 41, 42 are hooked to a substantially cylindrical first rib 6b fixed in a perpendicular direction to the cylinder axis of a distal tip 6, whereby the distal tip 6 retains the distal sides of the basket wires 41, 42 together.