Flexible Tube Insertion Apparatus Loop Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The insertion of flexible tubes into the large intestine, particularly into the sigmoid colon, often results in loop formations, which increase insertion difficulty and cause patient discomfort due to stretching. Inexperienced operators struggle to accurately sense and manage the twisting forces required to eliminate these loops, leading to inconsistent and potentially painful procedures.
Innovation Solution
A flexible tube insertion apparatus equipped with external force detectors and a providing device that analyzes and provides twisting information to guide the operator in releasing loop sections, ensuring the tube is converted to a substantially linear state, thereby facilitating smoother insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a flexible tube is inserted into the sigmoid colon, then the tube can reach the large intestine, but loop sections are formed that increase insertion difficulty and cause patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses external force detectors to monitor forces applied to the flexible tube in real-time, and the providing device delivers feedback information about the correct twisting direction to eliminate loops. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables operators to adjust their twisting actions based on quantitative force data, thereby preventing loop formation while achieving deep insertion.
2Ease of operation
If an inexperienced operator performs twisting operation, then the procedure can be completed, but the tactile information is sensed inaccurately leading to inconsistent results
Solution Approach 1:
The external force detectors act as an intermediary between the operator's hand and the flexible tube, objectively measuring the forces applied during twisting. This intermediary device translates subtle tactile sensations into quantifiable data that the providing device then presents as clear directional guidance, enabling inexperienced operators to perform twisting operations with the same precision as experts.
3Shape
If the flexible tube is twisted to eliminate loop sections, then the tube becomes substantially linear, but the operator needs accurate tactile information that is difficult to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the operator's mechanical tactile sensing with electronic force detection. External force detectors mounted on the flexible tube objectively measure the forces and resistance during twisting, substituting the subjective and variable human tactile sense with precise electronic measurement. The providing device then translates these measurements into clear directional guidance for achieving linearization.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible tube insertion apparatus includes a flexible tube having flexibility and configured to be inserted into an object to be inserted, one or more external force detectors disposed on the flexible tube and configured to detect a force of an external force applied to the flexible tube when the flexible tube is twisted in at least one direction, and a providing device configured to provide twisting information regarding a twisting direction of the flexible tube for releasing a loop section formed in the flexible tube, according to a direction in which the flexible tube is twisted and the detected force of the external force.