Patterned Scope Tube Articulation With Reduced Compressive Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical scopes and catheters face challenges in achieving desired angles of articulation and maintaining flexibility while minimizing compressive effects under load, particularly in accessing hard-to-reach anatomical regions.
Innovation Solution
A patterned tube design with alternating coarse and fine cuts, combined with switchback members and bending moment transfer members, allows for enhanced articulation capabilities, enabling angles greater than 180 degrees without plastic deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid tube is used to maintain structural strength, then torque resistance is improved, but articulation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is segmented into multiple regions with different cut patterns (coarse cuts in some regions, fine cuts in others). This segmentation allows different portions of the tube to have different flexibility characteristics, enabling the distal end to articulate while maintaining overall structural strength and torque resistance of the proximal portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tube are given different local qualities through varying cut patterns. Regions requiring flexibility (distal end) have finer, more numerous cuts, while regions requiring strength (proximal end) have coarser, fewer cuts. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between articulation capability and torque resistance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If coarse cuts are used to increase flexibility, then articulation capability is improved, but compressive effects under load worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Fine cuts are used in regions where the tube experiences compressive loads, while coarser cuts are used in regions where flexibility is the primary requirement. This local differentiation allows the tube to articulate effectively while minimizing compressive effects under load in critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube employs a composite cut pattern that combines both coarse and fine cuts in different regions, creating a structure with heterogeneous mechanical properties. This composite approach allows the tube to exhibit both flexibility for articulation and resistance to compressive effects in different locations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tube is made more flexible to access hard-to-reach areas, then articulation angle is improved, but torque resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is divided into segments with varying cut densities, allowing the distal end to achieve large articulation angles through fine cuts while the proximal segments maintain torque resistance through coarser cuts. This segmented approach enables differential flexibility along the tube length.
Solution Approach 2:
The cut parameters (width, depth, spacing) are varied along the length of the tube to achieve different mechanical properties in different regions. This parameter variation allows the tube to provide both high articulation angles and adequate torque resistance simultaneously.
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 design provides improved access to complex anatomical structures by allowing greater articulation angles and maintaining flexibility, reducing compressive stress, and ensuring precise maneuverability during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The cuts can be achieved, for example, by laser cutting a 'pattern' in the regions of the tube
Implementation Method 2
The cut tube can then be electropolished or otherwise smoothed, such as to help remove any sharp edges and/or burrs on the edges of the cuts
Implementation Method 3
help achieve a large angular degree of articulation and reduce or minimize compressive effects under load of the cuts by staying within the elastic material property region of the material
Data Source
AI summary
A patterned tube for use with a scope or similar medical device can include at least one flexible section. The at least one flexible section can include a plurality of first cuts having a first thickness, a plurality of second cuts having a second thickness. Particular ones of the plurality of second cuts can be located substantially opposite particular ones of the plurality of first cuts. The at least one flexible section can further include a plurality of bending moment transfer portions. Particular ones of the bending moment transfer portions can be located between particular ones of the first cuts and particular ones of the second cuts.