Endoscopic Treatment Device Slider Restriction Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic treatment devices face challenges in safely navigating the endoscope channel without damaging it, particularly when biopsy forceps or endoscopic clips need to reach the treatment target site, as they may come into contact with the channel and cause damage.

Innovation Solution

The treatment device incorporates a slider restriction mechanism that allows the arm member to transition between open and closed states, accommodating the arm member in a pipe at the distal end of the sheath, and includes a ratchet structure and spring mechanism to manage the slider's operational range, preventing accidental projection and ensuring safe navigation through the endoscope channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the arm member is allowed to project out from the pipe to reach the treatment target site, then the treatment function is improved, but the risk of damaging the endoscope channel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment functionVSAvoidchannel damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The slider restriction mechanism applies preliminary anti-action by restricting the slider's movement range to prevent the arm member from projecting out of the pipe. The mechanism includes a restricted range where the slider is constrained and a release condition that must be met before the slider can move beyond this range, thereby preventing channel damage while enabling treatment function when conditions are appropriate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the user pulls the slider to keep the arm member accommodated in the pipe, then the channel damage is prevented, but the operation difficulty increases and incorrect locking may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel damage preventionVSAvoidoperation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slider restriction mechanism employs self-service by automatically maintaining the slider in the restricted range through the ratchet structure and spring mechanism. The system self-regulates to prevent the arm member from projecting out without requiring continuous user intervention to pull the slider, thereby reducing operation difficulty while preventing channel damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism incorporates feedback through the ratchet structure that provides tactile and mechanical feedback to the user about the slider's position and the arm member's state. This feedback system helps prevent incorrect locking by clearly indicating when the slider is properly positioned in the restricted range versus when it can be released

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the slider operational range is fully accessible, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental projection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslider accessibilityVSAvoidaccidental projection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The slider operational range is segmented into distinct zones: a restricted range where the slider is constrained by the ratchet structure to prevent accidental projection, and a releaseable range that becomes accessible only when specific conditions are met. This segmentation allows the system to maintain ease of operation within safe boundaries while preventing accidental projections through structural constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution enables the treatment device to safely reach the treatment target site without damaging the endoscope channel, as the slider restriction mechanism prevents the arm member from projecting out unexpectedly, and allows for precise control over the arm member's position, reducing the risk of incorrect locking or channel damage.

Implementation Method 1

a spring mechanism to manage the slider's operational range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring mechanism: Spring

Implementation Method 2

includes a ratchet structure and spring mechanism to manage the slider's operational range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRatchet structure: Ratchet

Data Source

PatentUS12251121B2Treatment device

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A treatment device has an arm member having a plurality of arms to have an open state and a closed state; a wire having a distal end connected to the arm member and the distal end is attachable and detachable to the arm member; a sheath through which the wire is inserted; an operator connected to a proximal end of the sheath; a slider connected to the wire and attached to the operator to be slidable toward a distal end or a proximal end of the operator, wherein the slider makes the plurality of arms to be in the closed state when the slider is disposed in a first range, and the slider makes the plurality of arms to be in the open state when the slider is disposed in a second range; and a slider restriction mechanism provided between the distal end of the operator and the slider.