Endoscopic Sheath Suction Conduit Layout Without Diameter Penalty
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic treatment instruments with suction conduits on the entire sheath length face a trade-off between increased conduit diameter for improved suction efficiency and potential deterioration of endoscope suction performance.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic treatment instrument design featuring a sheath with a distal end member and a conduit between the inner surface of a second tube and the outer surface of a first tube, allowing suction from the distal end without significant reduction in endoscope suction performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conduit diameter is increased to improve suction efficiency, then the suction performance of the treatment instrument is improved, but the outer diameter of the sheath must be increased across the entire length, which deteriorates the suction performance of the endoscope
Solution Approach 1:
The suction conduit is segmented into two parts: a first conduit extending from the distal end to a first position within the sheath, and a second conduit extending from the distal end to a second position within the sheath. This segmentation allows the suction function to be distributed along the sheath length rather than requiring a single large-diameter conduit across the entire sheath, thereby maintaining endoscope suction performance while achieving effective suction at the distal end.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single longitudinal conduit to a multi-dimensional conduit arrangement where conduits are positioned at different radial distances from the central axis. The first conduit has a larger diameter and is positioned farther from the axis, while the second conduit has a smaller diameter and is positioned closer to the axis, creating a spatial distribution that optimizes suction efficiency without increasing overall sheath diameter.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic treatment instrument includes a sheath including a first tube and a distal end member, the distal end member fixed to a distal end of the first tube, the distal end member including a suction hole, an electrode protruding from a distal end of the sheath, a second tube fixed to the distal end member, a conduit located between an inner surface of the second tube and an outer surface of the first tube, the conduit communicating with the suction hole. A proximal end of the conduit is located between a distal end and a proximal end of the first tube.