Rotary Self-Advancing Endoscope Torque Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary self-advancing endoscopes face increased frictional resistance and load as the insertion length increases, leading to potential motor stoppage and reduced working efficiency, as kinetic friction transitions to static friction, necessitating a method to maintain stable insertion and prevent motor overload.
Innovation Solution
A rotary self-advancing endoscope system with a rotating cylindrical body and a drive source that employs a program to control the motor's rotation speed non-constantly by switching between different RPMs and temporarily stopping the motor when a predetermined rate of change in current is detected, to manage increasing torque and prevent motor overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If constant-speed driving is used to maintain insertion pace, then insertion time is reduced, but motor load increases rapidly due to friction transition from kinetic to static
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant-speed driving to variable-speed driving. The control unit adjusts the rotation speed of the rotating cylindrical body based on detected torque values, allowing the system to adapt to changing friction conditions. When torque exceeds a threshold (indicating static friction), the system reduces speed to prevent motor overload, thereby maintaining reliable operation while still achieving efficient insertion.
2Reliability
If rotation speed is reduced to manage motor load, then motor overload is prevented, but insertion speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through cyclic torque detection and speed adjustment. The control unit continuously monitors torque and periodically adjusts rotation speed based on detected torque values. This periodic control allows the motor to operate at high speed during low-torque phases (kinetic friction) and reduce speed during high-torque phases (static friction), maintaining both reliability and overall insertion efficiency through rhythmic acceleration and deceleration cycles.
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
This approach allows for stable and efficient insertion by managing motor load and preventing stoppages, enhancing working efficiency by predicting and mitigating the increase in torque, thus ensuring smooth and efficient insertion into the body.
Implementation Method 1
as an inserted length of an insertion portion into an examinee's body increases, a contact area of the insertion portion with the examinee's body increases, i.e., a frictional resistance-induced load on a drive source for driving a rotating cylindrical body increases
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary self-advancing endoscope system which produces propulsion by rotating, with a motor, a rotating cylindrical body provided on an outer periphery side of an insertion portion main body and causes the insertion portion main body to move forward into an examinee's body, wherein the system is configured to periodically repeating a combination of a state in which the rotating cylindrical body forward-rotates at a predetermined RPM and a state in which the rotating cylindrical body is stopped from rotating and releases accumulated elastic energy and, when a drive current to the motor has reached a predetermined threshold value, reverse-rotate the motor.