Flexible Tube Hinge Structure for Medical Instruments
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible tubes for medical instruments lack sufficient rigidity to withstand external forces and often cause issues with inserting and passing bodies through due to end edge interference.
Innovation Solution
A flexible tube design featuring tubular bodies connected by a hinge structure with projections and recesses that engage to distribute external forces and guide inserted bodies, enhancing rigidity and preventing end edge interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a reinforcement member is added to the flexible tube to secure rigidity against external forces, then the rigidity is improved, but the outside diameter increases or the lumen is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tube is divided into multiple tubular members connected by hinge structures. Each tubular member has pivotal sections at its end edges that form hinge structures with adjacent tubular members. This segmentation allows the tube to maintain rigidity through the connected structure while preserving flexibility and avoiding the need for internal reinforcement members that would reduce lumen diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure combines pivotal sections from adjacent tubular members with turning support sections to create a composite connection mechanism. This composite structure provides the necessary rigidity to resist external forces while maintaining the overall flexibility of the tube and preserving the lumen opening without adding separate reinforcement elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the end edges of adjacent tubular members are spaced from each other to allow relative turning, then the flexibility is improved, but inserted bodies are caught on the end edges making insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Projections are provided on the end edges of tubular members as intermediary elements that guide inserted bodies through the spaced end edges. These projections prevent inserted bodies from being caught on the end edges while maintaining the spacing necessary for hinge structure flexibility and relative turning between tubular members.
3Device complexity
If the flexible tube is configured with only pivotal parts such as hinges to receive external forces, then the结构简单性 is maintained, but sufficient rigidity cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structures are designed to be relatively turnable, allowing dynamic adjustment and curvature of the flexible tube while maintaining connection between tubular members. The pivotal sections can rotate relative to each other, providing dynamic flexibility while the connected structure maintains sufficient rigidity to resist external forces during medical procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible tube for medical instrument includes tubular bodies, one of the tubular bodies relatively turnably connected to an adjacent one of the tubular bodies by a hinge structure. Each of the tubular bodies includes a pivotal section provided at a connecting-directionally first end edge forming the hinge structure, a turning support section provided at a connecting-directionally second end edge and supporting the pivotal section of the one of tubular bodies connected to the adjacent one of tubular bodies, a projection which is provided at either one of the first and second end edges, and is projected in the connecting direction from a position different from the position of the pivotal section or the turning support section, and a recess provided at the other of the first and second end edges and engaged with the projection of the one of tubular bodies connected to the adjacent one of tubular bodies.