Steering Wire Guide for Steerable Tool Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of omni-directional articulated instruments for steerable tools is challenging due to the difficulty in threading thin steering wires into steerable tube housings, which leads to buckling and increased friction, and securing the wires around an annular ring, resulting in time-consuming assembly and potential detachment during use.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical transmission system (MTS) with a guide for longitudinal members (LMs) that uses channels and slots to maintain LMs in a fixed radial position, allowing for easier assembly by forming a groove for pulling the LMs into place, and a tail configuration that facilitates insertion without the need for external tools, enhancing pushability and reducing friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thin steering wires are used to maximize the number of wires for smoother steering, then steering smoothness is improved, but the wires are prone to buckling and friction increases during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure with channels and slots is introduced as an intermediary component to facilitate the insertion of thin steering wires. The channels provide a protected pathway that prevents buckling, while the slots allow controlled access and alignment, enabling smooth steering wires to be inserted without direct manual threading that causes friction and instability
2Length of moving object
If the steerable tube is made long (30 cm or more) to reach surgical sites, then operational reach is improved, but wire insertion becomes time-consuming due to increased friction and buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is pre-assembled with the steerable tube before wire insertion. The channels and slots are prepared in advance to create a friction-reduced pathway, allowing wires to be inserted smoothly through the entire 30 cm length without encountering resistance or buckling that would otherwise require repeated attempts and increase assembly time
3Strength
If wires are secured around an annular ring to provide push/pulling forces, then mechanical strength is improved, but welding increases diameter and adhesive may detach during use
Solution Approach 1:
The wire anchoring system is segmented into discrete components: the annular ring with pre-formed slots, the steering wires with integrated tails, and the guide structure. The slots in the annular ring provide predetermined positioning points that simplify wire attachment without requiring complex welding or adhesive processes, reducing both assembly complexity and the risk of detachment
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a longitudinal member, LM, guide (300) for guiding a set of LMs (110) for a mechanical transmission system, MTS, (100) for a steerable tool (500), which LM guide (300) comprises a body (302) having a proximal side (342), a distal side (344) and an outside edge (316), wherein the body (302) of the LM guide (300) comprises a set of channels (310) arranged around a fictive tube (320), each channel (310) passing from the proximal side (342) to the distal side (344) of the body (302), configured to retain an LM (110) of the set in a fixed radial position around the fictive tube (32), being connected to the outside edge (316) of the body (302) via a slot (314), wherein the slot has a width (326) narrower than the channel (310) width (320).