Stretchable Coating Member for Endoscope Operation Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope technologies face challenges in preventing contamination of the operation wire and potential damage to the coating member, particularly due to adhesive fixation and interference between the coating member and other components during operation.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design featuring a stretchable coating member that covers the operation wire, allowing relative movement, and is liquid-tightly fixed to both the standing base and operation wire-guide passage, with a bellows structure to maintain flexibility and prevent interference with the treatment tool's moving path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operation wire is fixed to the coating member using adhesive, then the coating member can be securely attached, but the contaminated coating member may be pulled into the tip portion body causing internal contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The coating member is designed to be stretchable rather than rigidly fixed, allowing it to dynamically extend and retract as the operation wire moves. This dynamic design prevents the coating member from being pulled into the tip portion body while maintaining secure attachment, thus preventing contamination without compromising attachment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a stretchable coating member (flexible shell) that covers the operation wire. This flexible coating can accommodate the movement of the operation wire through stretching and retracting, preventing it from being drawn into the internal space while maintaining attachment, thereby resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and contamination prevention
2Stability of the object's composition
If the coating member is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then it can provide stable coverage, but it may interfere with the moving path of the treatment tool
Solution Approach 1:
The coating member transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic stretchable structure. When the standing base rotates or the treatment tool moves, the coating member can stretch to accommodate these movements, preventing interference with the treatment tool's moving path while maintaining coverage stability through its elastic properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the coating member from rigid to stretchable. This parameter change allows the coating member to adapt its shape and size during operation, preventing interference with the treatment tool while maintaining structural integrity through its elastic recovery, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the operation wire is allowed to move freely within the coating member, then contamination can be prevented, but the coating member may be damaged due to contact with other members
Solution Approach 1:
The stretchable coating member acts as a protective flexible shell that covers the operation wire throughout its movement range. This continuous coverage prevents contamination while the flexible nature of the coating absorbs mechanical stresses, preventing damage to the coating member itself during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The stretchable coating member provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing mechanical stresses and deformations that occur during operation. This cushioning effect protects the coating member from damage while allowing the operation wire to move freely, thus resolving the contradiction between contamination prevention and durability
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
Prevents contamination of the operation wire and damage to the coating member by ensuring liquid-tight sealing and allowing for the coating member to move independently of the operation wire, while maintaining the functionality of the standing base in changing the lead-out direction of treatment tools.
Implementation Method 1
a stretchable coating member that covers the operation wire so as to extend in an extending direction of the operation wire and so as to allow the operation wire to be relatively movable
Implementation Method 2
A tip of the coating member and the standing base are liquid-tightly fixed to each other and a base end of the coating member and the operation wire-guide passage are liquid-tightly fixed to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes a standing base in a tip portion body, an operation wire of which a tip side is connected to the standing base, and a stretchable coating member that covers the operation wire along an extending direction of the operation wire and so as to allow the operation wire to be relatively movable over the entire region from a connection portion between the standing base and the operation wire to an operation wire-guide passage. A tip of the coating member and the standing base are liquid-tightly fixed to each other, and a base end of the coating member and the operation wire-guide passage are liquid-tightly fixed to each other, and the coating member is disposed at a position where a moving path of the coating member and a moving path of a treatment tool led from a treatment tool-guide passage do not interfere with each other.