Treatment-Instrument Insertion Aid With Segmented Guiding Portions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatment-instrument insertion aids, such as multi-lumen tube endoscopes, are limited in their ability to change the number, diameter, or shape of inner tubes, leading to inadequate bending when an outer tube is bent due to mismatched curvature radii between inner and outer engaging portions.
Innovation Solution
A treatment-instrument insertion aid featuring an outer tube with flexible guiding portions and rail members that are fixed at one point, allowing the rail members to bend with the outer tube, enabling adequate bending while maintaining the shape of the engaging portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple engaging portions are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube to lock multiple inner tubes, then the inner tubes can be locked at predetermined places in the outer tube, but when the outer tube is bent, the outer tube is not adequately bent because the inside engaging portion and the outside engaging portion are different in curvature radius from each other
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging portions are segmented into two distinct types: guiding portions formed only on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube, and engaging portions formed on both the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube and the outer peripheral surface of the rail members. This segmentation allows the guiding portions to provide lateral guidance while the engaging portions provide axial locking, resolving the contradiction between locking stability and bending flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tube assembly are given different functional qualities: the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube has guiding portions for lateral guidance, while the rail members have engaging portions on their outer peripheral surfaces for axial locking. This local differentiation of functional qualities allows the system to achieve both stable locking and adequate bending capability.
2Ease of operation
If the outer tube is made flexible to enable bending, then the outer tube can be adequately bent, but the shape of engaging portions may not be adequately secured during bending
Solution Approach 1:
The rail members are designed with flexibility to dynamically adapt to the bending of the outer tube. The engaging portions on the rail members can deform with the tube during bending while maintaining their functional engagement capability, and return to their original shape after bending. This dynamic design allows the system to maintain shape accuracy during bending operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If the rail members are made of harder material than the outer tube to secure the shape of engaging portions, then the shape of the second engaging portion can be adequately secured, but the outer tube becomes less easy to bend
Solution Approach 1:
The rail members are made of harder material specifically at the regions where engaging portions are formed, while the outer tube remains flexible in its bulk material. This local quality differentiation ensures that the engaging portions maintain their shape and functional integrity during bending, while the outer tube retains its overall bending flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment-instrument insertion aid (10) for aiding insertion of a treatment-instrument into a body includes an outer tube (30) having flexibility including a plurality of guiding portions (31) circumferentially spaced apart on an inner peripheral surface and extend in an axial direction from a distal end to a proximal end, a plurality of rail members (40) having flexibility, extend in an axial direction from a distal end to a proximal end and include guided portions (41) to be engaged with the guiding portions (31) respectively, and an inner tube (20) having flexibility and includes an engaged portion (21) to be engaged with an engaging portion (50) formed between the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube (30) and the adjacent rail members (40). The rail members (40) are fixed to a hard portion (30B) nearest to the distal end side of the outer tube (30).