Modular Endoscope Articulation Section for Cable Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope articulation sections face issues with cables, wires, and fibers kinking or breaking due to length differences between straight and bent configurations, and require disassembly of the entire section for replacement, leading to time-consuming and costly maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The articulation section features a chain of vertebrae with separate channels for wires, cables, and tubes, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of individual components without disassembling the entire section, using coaxial cylinders and pivot arrangements to manage bending and straightening, and a polymer or rubber sheath for protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cables and wires pass through the hollow interior of the articulation section links, then the articulation section can be constructed with a compact structure, but the cables tend to move around and kink or break due to length differences between straight and bent configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation section is divided into multiple modular links, each containing its own set of cables and wires within a common housing. This segmentation allows the cables to be contained within individual link modules rather than passing freely through the entire articulation section, preventing them from moving around and kinking when the section bends.
Solution Approach 2:
The cables and wires are nested within the hollow interior of each articulation link's common housing. This nesting arrangement keeps the cables organized and protected within each modular link, preventing them from becoming entangled or damaged during articulation movement.
2Ease of repair
If the entire articulation section is disassembled to replace a broken cable or worn link, then complete inspection and replacement can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation section is segmented into modular links with a common housing that can be independently removed. This allows a single broken cable or worn link to be replaced by removing only the specific link module rather than disassembling the entire articulation section, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The common housing containing the cables and links is extracted as a separate removable module from the articulation section. This extraction allows maintenance personnel to access and replace individual components within the housing without disturbing the rest of the articulation section, enabling quick and easy repairs.
3Device complexity
If multiple cables and wires pass through the same hollow interior space, then the structure remains simple, but the cables move around freely causing kinking and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is segmented into individual link modules, each with its own common housing. This segmentation confines the cables to specific modular sections, preventing them from moving freely throughout the entire articulation section and reducing the risk of kinking and breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple cables and wires are nested within the common housing of each articulation link. This nesting arrangement keeps all cables organized within a confined space, preventing them from moving around and becoming entangled while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is an articulation section for an endoscope (10). The articulation section (50) is characterized in that each one of its vertebrae (52) is comprised of several pieces that can be easily assembled or disassembled. This arrangement allows the replacement of individual ones of the vertebrae and/or the replacement of individual ones of the wires, cables, fibers, and tubes that pass through the vertebrae section without having to disassemble and reassemble the entire articulation section.