Modular Endoscope Bending Wire Control in Curved Anatomy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexible endoscopes face issues with infection risk due to improper sterilization and reduced driving accuracy caused by frictional forces between the wire and sheath when bent at large angles, such as 180° to 270°, leading to control performance degradation.

Innovation Solution

A modular endoscopic device with a detachable endoscope module that includes a bending wire, coil sheath, and a vibrator to reduce friction, allowing for easy replacement and improved control accuracy by vibrating the sheath stopper to minimize frictional resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the insertion tube is bent by a large angle (180° to 270°) to reach deep curved areas like the renal calyx, then the ability to access difficult-to-reach areas is improved, but the frictional force between the wire and sheath increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to curved body areasVSAvoidfrictional force

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vibrator that vibrates the sheath at high frequency to reduce frictional force between the wire and sheath. The vibration creates a dynamic effect that minimizes contact friction, allowing the wire to slide smoothly even when the insertion tube is bent at large angles of 180° to 270°.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a sheath stopper as an intermediary component that prevents the sheath from receding from the insertion tube. This mediator ensures proper positioning and maintains the structural integrity of the sheath-wire interface during bending operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a tendon-sheath mechanism is used to maintain wire length and enable bending, then the flexibility and control capability are improved, but the frictional force reduces the transfer rate of tension and control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility and control capabilityVSAvoidcontrol accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The vibrator vibrates the sheath at high frequency to reduce frictional force, which directly improves the transfer rate of tension from the wire to the bending mechanism. By minimizing friction, the system maintains better control accuracy even when bent at large angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional rigid tendon-sheath mechanism with a vibration-based friction reduction system. The high-frequency vibration creates a dynamic interface that substitutes for mechanical friction reduction methods, improving force transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If a flexible endoscope is cleaned and reused to reduce costs, then the economic efficiency is improved, but the risk of infection transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeconomic efficiencyVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the endoscope module disposable by designing it to be detached from the base unit after use. The module can be discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and sterilization, thereby preventing infection transmission while maintaining cost-effectiveness through targeted disposal of only the flexible portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The endoscope is divided into two separate parts: a reusable base unit and a disposable endoscope module. This segmentation allows the expensive base unit to be reused while the flexible module that contacts the patient is discarded after single use, balancing economic efficiency with infection control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 modular design prevents infections by disposability and reduces frictional resistance, enhancing force transfer efficiency and control accuracy, enabling effective stone extraction in curved body areas like the renal calyx.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrator configured to vibrate the coil sheath by vibrating the sheath stopper to reduce a frictional force between the coil sheath and the bending wire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12478245B2Endoscope module and modular endoscopic device including the same

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 ROEN SURGICAL INC

AI summary

A modular endoscopic device includes a base portion, a driver provided in the base portion, and an endoscope module including an endoscope housing detachably provided in the base portion, an insertion tube including a bendable bending portion and connected to the endoscope housing to be inserted into a body of a subject, and a bending wire configured to transfer a force to bend the bending portion. The endoscope module is detachably attachable to the base portion. The driver is configured to transfer power to the bending wire when the endoscope module is attached to the base portion, and the driver is configured not to transfer power to the bending wire when the endoscope module is detached from the base portion.