Endoscopic Jaw Piece with Blocking Device for Retraction Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic instruments face challenges in achieving a small diameter while providing sufficient positioning freedom and mobility at the distal end, often requiring multiple instruments or frequent changes, which limits user freedom during procedures.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic instrument design featuring a shaft with a pivotable jaw piece and a blocking device that allows the jaw piece to be deployed, opened, closed, and retracted using a single thrust element, with the blocking device controlling the retraction by changing states through rotation, enabling precise control over the jaw piece's position and function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple working sections are implemented in one endoscopic instrument, then positioning freedom and mobility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw piece is designed to perform multiple functions: it can be deployed from the shaft, opened and closed for grasping, rotated about the longitudinal direction for positioning, and retracted into the shaft. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate instruments while maintaining positioning freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple control functions (deployment, opening/closing, rotation, and retraction) are merged into a single thrust element mechanism. The thrust element's linear movement is converted into complex jaw piece motions through the blocking device and mechanical linkages, reducing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single thrust element is used to control multiple functions, then device complexity is reduced, but control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking device acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the thrust element's linear movement into different jaw piece functions based on its state. When the blocking device is in different positions, it directs the thrust force to produce deployment, opening/closing, or retraction motions, enabling precise control despite using a single actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic state changes of the blocking device to alter the functional relationship between the thrust element and jaw piece. The blocking device can be positioned in different states to enable or disable specific functions, allowing one thrust element to precisely control multiple operations through dynamic reconfiguration.
3Volume of moving object
If the jaw piece can be retracted into the shaft, then the instrument diameter is reduced, but positioning freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw piece is designed as a separable component that can be retracted into the shaft when not in use and deployed when needed. This segmentation allows the instrument to maintain a small diameter during insertion and navigation while providing full positioning freedom and working capability when the jaw piece is deployed at the target site.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw piece is nested within the shaft in its retracted state, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting minimizes the instrument's overall diameter during insertion and navigation through body passages, while allowing the jaw piece to be fully deployed for positioning and working operations at the distal end.
4Ease of operation
If the blocking device is added to control retraction, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking device is integrated into the existing thrust element mechanism rather than being a completely separate system. It works in conjunction with the thrust element's linear movement to control jaw piece functions, merging the blocking function with the existing actuation system to minimize additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking device serves multiple functions: it controls retraction, enables opening/closing, and facilitates rotation of the jaw piece. By making the blocking device multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate control mechanisms for each function, thereby improving control precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Endoscopic instrument having a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal direction, wherein a working section on the distal end and an actuating element on the proximal end are operatively connected by a thrust element extending along the longitudinal direction, wherein the working section has a jaw piece with first and second jaw parts, which jaw piece is arranged pivotably on a jaw part holder, which is arranged in the shaft so as to be displaceable along the longitudinal direction and rotatable about the longitudinal direction and the thrust element is coupled to the jaw piece, wherein the jaw piece, in the closed state, can be retracted into the shaft, and a blocking device is provided in the instrument which is configured to block a retraction of the jaw piece into the shaft in a predefined angle range about the longitudinal direction.