Rotary Tool Adjustor for Endoscopic Surgical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic tools face difficulties in accurately orienting surgical or bioptic tools within a body cavity due to the flexible nature of the insertion tube, making it challenging to transmit rotational forces effectively from the manipulating head grip to the distal end, especially when the tool guide channel is long and the manipulation handle is distant, leading to flexural deformations and reduced maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
A rotary tool adjustor is integrated with the flexible cord near the tool entrance way on the endoscope, featuring a tubular outer shell with grip protuberances and a clamp tube with split fingers to securely attach and rotate the tool, preventing relative movements and allowing precise radial adjustment of the tool's action mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the flexible cord is made longer to allow the tool to protrude sufficiently from the tool exit opening, then the tool can be properly positioned for treatment, but the flexible cord becomes more prone to flexural deformations and difficult to orient
Solution Approach 1:
A rotary tool adjustor is introduced as an intermediary device between the manipulation handle and the tool. This adjustor includes a sheathing tube that fits around the flexible cord and an insert tube that can rotate relative to the sheathing tube. The insert tube has a distal end that protrudes from the tool exit opening, allowing the tool to be oriented in specific radial directions while the flexible cord remains protected within the sheathing tube, preventing flexural deformations.
2Length of stationary object
If the tool guide channel is made longer to extend from the manipulating head grip to the distal end of the insertion tube, then the endoscope can reach deeper body cavities, but rotational forces become difficult to transmit effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary tool adjustor serves as a mediator that facilitates the transmission of rotational forces over the length of the tool guide channel. The sheathing tube protects the flexible cord while the insert tube rotates relative to it, ensuring that rotational movements at the manipulation handle are effectively transmitted to the distal end of the tool guide channel without significant loss of rotational accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible cord is allowed to be in frictional contact with the tool guide channel for flexibility, then the insertion tube can bend freely, but the radial orientation of the tool becomes extremely difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cord is segmented into two functional parts: a proximal portion that remains within the sheathing tube and is protected from frictional contact with the tool guide channel, and a distal portion that protrudes from the tool exit opening and is free to rotate. This segmentation allows the insertion tube to maintain flexibility while the distal end can be precisely controlled for radial orientation through the rotary tool adjustor.
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 rotary tool adjustor enhances the manipulability of endoscopic tools by ensuring accurate and smooth transmission of rotational forces, reducing flexural deformations and improving the ability to orient tools correctly, thereby improving the precision and effectiveness of surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a clamp tube (52) to be fitted in the tubular outer shell (51), wherein the clamp tube (52) is internally provided with an axial cord threading bore (54), and wherein a plurality of split clamp fingers (55) to be brought into and out of pressed engagement with the flexible cord (3) are provided on the inner side of the clamp tube (52)
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoscopically inserting surgical tool (1) is composed of an elongated flexible cord (3) to be passed through a tool guide channel (45) on an endoscope (40), and a tool action mechanism (2) mounted on a fore distal end of the flexible cord (3) to be projected out of the tool guide channel (45). The flexible cord (3) has such a length that, when the tool action mechanism (2) is projected out of a tool exit opening (46) at the end of the tool guide channel (45), a proximal end portion of the flexible cord (3) still remains outside and rearward of a tool entrance way (44) which is provided on a manipulating head grip (41) of the endoscope (40) as an approach to the tool guide channel (45). A proximal end portion of the flexible cord (3) is gripped in a rotary tool adjustor (50) which is manipulable to turn the tool action mechanism (2) clockwise or counterclockwise together with the flexible cord (3) in the tool guide channel (45) of the endoscope (40).