Ultrasonic Endoscope Flexible Circuit Layout for Bend-Resistant Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic endoscopes face challenges in securing insulation performance and manufacturing suitability due to loose cables and flexible printed circuits disconnecting during bending operations, especially in distal end parts with small diameters.
Innovation Solution
The ultrasonic endoscope design includes a flexible printed circuit part with offset wiring portions and cable bonding portions covered by an insulating member, positioned away from the longitudinal axis, and connected through intermediate connection portions, facilitating easy insertion and securing insulation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If loose cables and flexible printed circuit are bonded in a bendable part, then connection flexibility is improved, but insulation performance deteriorates due to disconnection during bending operations
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible printed circuit board is introduced as an intermediary component between the ultrasound transducer and the cable. The FPCB has a specific configuration with an offset wiring portion that bonds to the cable at a position away from the longitudinal axis, and an intermediate connection portion that connects to the transducer, serving as a mediator that maintains both flexibility and insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The wiring portion is positioned in a radial direction away from the longitudinal axis of the endoscope. This dimensional change from axial to radial positioning allows the cable bonding to occur at a location that experiences less stress during bending operations, thereby maintaining insulation performance while preserving connection flexibility
2Reliability
If flexible printed circuit and loose cables are connected near proximal end side of ultrasound transducer, then insulation performance is improved, but manufacturing suitability deteriorates due to difficulty in inserting cables into small-diameter distal end part
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible printed circuit is divided into distinct functional portions: a transducer connection portion at the distal end, an intermediate connection portion, and an offset wiring portion with cable bonding portion. This segmentation allows the cable bonding to be positioned optimally for insulation while maintaining ease of assembly by providing separate connection zones
3Ease of manufacture
If offset wiring portion is positioned away from longitudinal axis, then ease of manufacture is improved by facilitating cable insertion, but device complexity increases due to offset configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible printed circuit board serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connection between the transducer and cable, maintains insulation performance through offset positioning, facilitates cable insertion by bonding at an accessible location, and structurally supports the distal end components. This multi-functionality justifies the offset configuration without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An ultrasonic endoscope includes an ultrasound transducer, a distal end body block component in which an observation optical system and an illumination optical system are mounted, a channel block component, and a flexible printed circuit part that is disposed inside the distal end body block component and is connected to the ultrasound transducer, the flexible printed circuit part includes a transducer connection portion, an offset wiring portion that is positioned on an opposite side to the transducer connection portion and is disposed in an offset manner at a position away from a longitudinal axis toward an outside in a radial direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the transducer connection portion, and an intermediate connection portion that connects the transducer connection portion and the offset wiring portion, the offset wiring portion has a cable bonding portion to which loose cables are bonded, and the cable bonding portion is covered with an insulating member that is positioned inside the distal end body block component.