Treatment Tool Shaft Rotation Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing treatment tools experience deviations between the operation handle and the bending direction of the bending mechanism when the shaft is twisted, leading to misalignment in endoscopic images during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A treatment tool with a bending mechanism at the distal end, featuring a connection sleeve for rotational locking and a stopper member that slides along the shaft's longitudinal axis to lock and unlock the rotation of the shaft, allowing for adjustment of the bending direction alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is allowed to rotate freely with respect to the bending operation part, then the shaft can be adjusted to correct twisting deviations, but the shaft may become unstable and lose its corrected position
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper member is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis, allowing the system to transition between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic element enables the shaft to be adjusted when needed while maintaining stability during operation, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member prevents unwanted rotation by engaging with the connection sleeve before twisting deviations can occur. This preliminary locking action counteracts potential instability and maintains the corrected shaft position throughout the surgical procedure
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent shaft rotation, then position stability is improved, but the ability to adjust for twisting deviations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper member transitions from a static locking element to a dynamic one that can be moved between locked and unlocked positions. This allows the system to provide stability when needed while enabling adjustment when twisting deviations occur
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper member acts as an intermediary between the shaft and the connection sleeve, providing conditional locking. It mediates between the need for stability and the need for adjustability by allowing rotation only when deliberately unlocked
3Measurement precision
If the stopper member is always engaged to lock the shaft, then operational precision is maintained, but the complexity of the locking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into a separate stopper member that can be independently controlled. This modular approach allows the locking mechanism to be simple when unlocked and provide precision when locked, without requiring a continuously complex mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, controllable feature (the stopper member) rather than being integrated into the basic shaft structure. This allows the mechanism to remain simple during normal operation while providing precision locking when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment tool includes an elongated shaft that has a bending mechanism at a distal end thereof; a bending operation part that is connected to a proximal-end side of the shaft in order to operate the bending mechanism; a connection sleeve that is provided at a connection section of the bending operation part where the bending operation part and the shaft are connected, and that rotatably holds the shaft; a rotation operation member that is provided at the proximal-end side of the shaft and that rotates the shaft; and a stopper member that can be made to slide outside the connection sleeve along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the shaft and that is engaged with both the rotation operation member and the connection sleeve at a specific position in a range of movement thereof, thereby locking rotation of the shaft with respect to the connection sleeve.