Tiltable Insertion Unit Locking Mechanism for Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices with bendable components face challenges in preventing accidental drops during attachment and detachment from the insertion unit, which can lead to operational inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A medical apparatus featuring a tiltable insertion unit with recess portions and a locking mechanism that includes restriction surfaces to secure the bendable medical device, preventing it from being inadvertently dropped by ensuring it remains locked in place during attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bendable medical device is made detachable from the insertion unit for flexible use methods, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of accidental drops
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is automatically engaged with the holding portion when the bendable medical device is inserted into the insertion unit, before any operational use. This preliminary locking action ensures the device is securely retained during manual insertion or robotic control operations, preventing accidental drops while maintaining detachability for flexible use methods.
2Reliability
If the locking member is added to prevent accidental drops, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is configured to be automatically engaged with the holding portion through the insertion motion itself, without requiring separate locking operations or complex control systems. The device performs the locking action on its own during the natural insertion process, improving reliability while avoiding additional complexity in the attachment mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical apparatus includes a bendable medical device including a bendable body and a held portion, and an insertion unit including a moving body and a driving portion. The insertion unit is tiltable. The moving body includes a recess portion configured to accommodate the held portion in a case where the bendable medical device is attached to the moving body, a locking member that is movable between a locking position and a release position, and a restriction surface facing the recess portion. In a state in which the held portion is positioned within the recess portion and the tilt angle is maximized, the restriction surface extends upward such that an upper end of the restriction surface is positioned above a lower end of the held portion, and the upper end of the restriction surface forms a lower edge of an opening of the recess portion.