Medical Device Flexing Structure With Cutouts for Compact Tip Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical endoscopes face challenges in manufacturing cost and size reduction due to complex assembly of the tip-deflection portion, which affects their ability to navigate through narrow access paths while maintaining functionality for various operations.
Innovation Solution
A flexing structure for medical devices with tubular vertebrae cut by energy-beam cutting lines, featuring radial and axial blocking systems for the sheath and actuating cable, allowing for reduced cross-section and efficient tip-deflection without altering internal equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional articulated vertebrae are assembled to form the tip-deflection portion, then the endoscope can achieve tip-deflection capability, but the manufacturing cost increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is segmented into tubular vertebrae through energy-beam cutting lines that create cut-out areas forming rotation pivots. This segmentation allows each vertebra to rotate relative to others, providing tip-deflection capability while simplifying the overall structure compared to traditional articulated assemblies
Solution Approach 2:
Cut-out areas are extracted from the tube to form rotation pivots between adjacent tubular vertebrae. This extraction creates the necessary rotational joints without requiring separate pivot components, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining tip-deflection functionality
2Reliability
If traditional articulated vertebrae are assembled to form the tip-deflection portion, then the endoscope can achieve tip-deflection capability, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation pivot function is merged into the tube structure itself through cut-out areas, eliminating the need for separate pivot components. This merging reduces the number of parts and assembly steps, thereby lowering manufacturing cost while maintaining tip-deflection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tube structure provides its own rotation pivots through the cut-out areas, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external pivot components. This self-service approach simplifies manufacturing and reduces costs
3Length of moving object
If the endoscope is miniaturized to pass through reduced diameter access paths, then the access capability is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is segmented into multiple tubular vertebrae through energy-beam cutting, allowing the miniaturized endoscope to achieve flexibility and tip-deflection despite the reduced diameter. This segmentation enables the narrow profile while maintaining functional capability
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical assembly of articulated vertebrae is replaced with energy-beam cutting to create integrated cut-out pivots in the tube. This substitution simplifies manufacturing of miniaturized components while maintaining the mechanical flexing function
4Area of stationary object
If energy-beam cutting lines are used to create tubular vertebrae with cut-out areas, then the cross-section is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cut-out areas are created at specific locations in the tube to form rotation pivots, providing localized flexibility where needed while maintaining structural integrity in other areas. This local modification reduces cross-section complexity without compromising overall strength
Solution Approach 2:
The energy-beam cutting creates smooth curved cut-out areas that form rotation pivots, allowing adjacent tubular vertebrae to rotate relative to each other. This curved geometry enables flexing functionality while maintaining a compact cross-sectional profile
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a low-cost, compact flexing structure with sufficient tip-deflection capability, enabling navigation through narrow paths while maintaining functionality for diagnostic and surgical operations.
Implementation Method 1
a tube (15) cut with energy-beam cutting lines (T) in order to create tubular vertebrae (16)
Data Source
AI summary
A flexing structure for an insertion tube of a medical device including tubular vertebrae with a proximal tubular vertebra and a distal tubular vertebra and at least one actuating cable surrounded by a sheath over at least part of its length, the flexing structure including a tube cut with energy-beam cutting lines to create tubular vertebrae that nest in one another, the proximal tubular vertebra including, for each actuating cable, a radial and axial blocking system for the sheath, comprising an elongate cutout created in such a way as to delimit two stop edges that limit the radial engagement of the sheath in the cutout, this cutout opening at its distal part into a slot delimited by at least two cutout lines between which there is attached a pressing tab designed to press the sheath radially against the two stop edges of the cutout, this slot being bordered by a rim for axially stopping the sheath.