Tubular Insertion System Optical Fiber Shape Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tubular insertion systems face challenges in acquiring operation support information with high precision due to the difficulty in disposing multiple pressure-sensitive sensors on increasingly thin distal ends and limited wiring space, which affects the accuracy of pressure-sensitive information and shape information detection.

Innovation Solution

A tubular insertion system that includes a bendable portion with a bending operation mechanism, a bending operation amount detection/calculation device, a bent shape detection/calculation device, and a first operation support information acquisition unit, which detects and calculates bending operation amount and bent shape information to provide precise operation support information without the need for multiple pressure-sensitive sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple pressure-sensitive sensors are disposed in the distal end portion to acquire operation support information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and the distal end portion becomes thicker

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation support information detection precisionVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical pressure-sensitive sensor system with an optical detection system using optical fibers. Instead of using multiple physical sensors that require wiring and complex arrangement, the invention uses optical fibers to detect bending and shape information through light transmission principles, thereby simplifying the device structure while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces optical fibers as an intermediary medium to transfer bending information from the distal end portion to the detection device. The optical fibers act as mediators that convert mechanical deformation into optical signal changes, enabling precise measurement without direct electrical contact or complex sensor wiring in the distal end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple pressure-sensitive sensors are disposed in the distal end portion to acquire operation support information, then measurement precision is improved, but the distal end portion thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation support information detection precisionVSAvoiddistal end portion thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thick mechanical sensor components with thin optical fibers that can be embedded within the distal end portion. The optical fibers have much smaller dimensions than traditional pressure-sensitive sensors, allowing precise measurement without increasing the thickness of the distal end portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent embeds multiple optical fibers within the distal end portion in a nested arrangement. Multiple sensing elements are integrated into the same spatial envelope, allowing precise multi-dimensional measurement while maintaining a thin overall profile of the distal end portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Measurement precision

If pressure-sensitive sensors are disposed to detect operation support information, then measurement precision is improved, but wiring space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure-sensitive information precisionVSAvoidwiring space

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces electrical wiring with optical fiber transmission. Instead of requiring electrical connections and power supply wiring for pressure-sensitive sensors, the invention uses optical fibers that transmit detection signals through light, eliminating the need for complex electrical wiring and power management in the limited space of the insertion unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9943220B2Tubular insertion system

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A tubular insertion system includes an insertion unit including a bendable portion, a bending operation mechanism that operates the bendable portion. The tubular insertion system further includes a bending operation amount detection/calculation device that calculates bending operation amount information, a bent shape detection/calculation device that calculates bent shape information, and a first operation support information acquisition unit that acquires first operation support information based on at least one of the bending operation amount information and the bent shape information.