Single-Piece Suction Valve for Low-Assembly Endoscope Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suction valves for surgical devices, such as endoscopes, require multiple individual components, leading to a laborious assembly process and high production costs, even in high-volume manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A suction valve and fluid control unit designed as a single-piece injection-molded workpiece, integrating the suction chamber and piston assembly, allowing for simplified assembly and reduced component count, and utilizing injection molding for efficient high-volume production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suction valve design with multiple individual components is used, then the valve can perform its suction control function, but the assembly process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual components (piston, seals, spring, button, housing) into a single integrated suction valve unit. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate assembly steps, directly reducing assembly time while maintaining the suction control function through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated suction valve unit performs multiple functions (suction control, sealing, spring mechanism, button operation) within a single component structure. This multi-functionality allows the single unit to replace multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and time while maintaining all necessary operational capabilities.
2Reliability
If conventional suction valve with multiple individual components is used, then the valve can perform its suction control function, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into a single integrated suction valve unit, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, stored, and assembled. This consolidation simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces inventory requirements, and lowers overall production costs while maintaining the necessary suction control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes rubber material properties (elastomeric characteristics) to provide sealing and spring functions within the integrated structure. This material-based solution replaces the need for separate metal springs and precision seals, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs through the use of molded rubber components.
3Reliability
If conventional suction valve with multiple individual components is used, then the valve can perform its suction control function, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the piston, seals, spring, button, and housing into a single integrated suction valve unit. This consolidation reduces the component count from multiple separate parts to one unified component, simplifying the device structure while maintaining all necessary suction control functions through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The single integrated suction valve unit performs multiple functions (suction control, sealing, spring mechanism, button operation) that would traditionally require separate components. This multi-functionality within a single unit reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized parts.
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 integrated design reduces assembly time and costs, enabling a compact structure suitable for automated production and facilitating low-cost, single-use parts for surgical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The suction valve is produced as a pulled-over piece of rubber material and can be pulled over a piston assembly in an elastic deformed state
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to suction valve for controlling the communication of fluid channels of a surgical device, in particular an endoscope, comprising a suction chamber; a piston assembly for controlling fluid flow through the suction chamber, wherein the suction chamber and the piston assembly are configured as a single-piece injection-molded workpiece, wherein the suction chamber is formed by a hollow part of the workpiece, which is pulled over the piston assembly. Furthermore, the invention relates to a fluid control unit and a surgical device, as well as to methods for manufacturing a suction valve and a fluid control unit.