Rotating Nozzle for Endoscope Cleaning Conduit Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope cleaning devices struggle to deliver cleaning brushes to multiple conduits within an endoscope cylinder without damaging the inner walls, limiting their effectiveness and versatility.

Innovation Solution

A linear member delivery device featuring a nozzle with an adjustable outlet, a fitting portion that securely attaches to the endoscope, and a switching mechanism allowing the nozzle to pivot and align with various conduit openings, enabling the delivery of cleaning brushes to multiple angles and positions within the endoscope cylinder.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a cleaning brush is led out to an air/water feeding conduit using a conventional adapter, then the conduit can be cleaned, but the device cannot easily deliver cleaning brushes to multiple conduits without damaging inner walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to clean multiple conduitsVSAvoiddamage to cylinder inner wall

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is designed to be rotatable relative to the fitting portion, allowing dynamic adjustment of the nozzle's orientation. This enables the outlet to face different conduit openings as needed, providing adaptability to clean multiple conduits while maintaining control over the delivery process to prevent damage to the cylinder inner wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed as a multi-functional cleaning system that can deliver cleaning brushes to multiple different conduits within the endoscope cylinder. By combining the rotatable nozzle with the fitting portion that attaches to the endoscope, a single device performs the function of cleaning various conduits that would otherwise require multiple separate adapters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the nozzle outlet is fixed in one position, then the structure is simple, but the device cannot deliver cleaning brushes to conduits at different angles and positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to deliver to multiple anglesVSAvoidnozzle switching mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is designed with rotational capability relative to the fitting portion, allowing it to dynamically change its orientation to face different conduit openings. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the device to deliver cleaning brushes to conduits at various angles and positions without requiring multiple separate fixed adapters, thus improving adaptability while keeping the overall structure relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10194784B2Linear member delivery device for endoscope

Publication Date: 2019.02.05 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A linear member delivery device for the endoscope includes: a nozzle including an inlet, an outlet, and an insertion path; a fitting portion fitted to an endoscope; a holding portion configured to hold a linear member; and a switching portion configured to connect the fitting portion and the nozzle such that a crossing angle of an opening of the endoscope and a center axis of the nozzle can be switched to a plurality of angles in a state that the fitting portion is fitted to the endoscope.