Variable Stiffness Endoscope via Movable Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope technologies face challenges in providing flexible members with varying levels of stiffness, as current solutions either lack the necessary flexibility or are not easily adjustable to accommodate different medical procedures, limiting their utility in diverse applications.
Innovation Solution
A variable stiffness device comprising a first elongated member with alternating high and low bending stiffness sections, reinforced by a metal reinforcement member with a contact coil and stranded tube, and a second elongated member that can move within the reinforcement member to adjust the stiffness by changing its position, allowing for different stiffness levels to be achieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible member is designed to be always flexible, then it can easily navigate through the body, but it cannot maintain positional stability or push force during medical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible member incorporates a variable stiffness mechanism that allows dynamic adjustment between flexible and stiff states. A movable core member can be inserted or removed from the flexible member, changing its stiffness characteristics in real-time to suit different procedural requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The variable stiffness mechanism uses a nested structure where a core member is inserted within the flexible member. The core member can be moved in and out of the flexible member to adjust stiffness, creating a compact integrated system that combines both flexible and stiff functional states
2Reliability
If the flexible member is made stiff to maintain position, then positional stability is improved, but it becomes difficult to navigate through the body and adapt to different procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic switching between stiff and flexible states through the movable core member mechanism, allowing the flexible member to adapt its stiffness characteristics based on procedural needs rather than being fixed in one state
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameter of the flexible member is made variable through the core member insertion mechanism. By changing the presence and position of the core member, the stiffness parameter can be adjusted to optimize performance for different medical procedures
3Adaptability or versatility
If a variable stiffness mechanism is added to the endoscope, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable stiffness mechanism uses a nested structure where a core member is inserted within the flexible member. The core member can be moved in and out of the flexible member to adjust stiffness, creating a compact integrated system that combines both flexible and stiff functional states
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible member is divided into sections with different stiffness characteristics. High bending stiffness sections and low bending stiffness sections are alternately arranged along the longitudinal axis, allowing selective stiffness adjustment in different regions of the insertion section
Data Source
AI summary
A variable stiffness device includes a first elongated member, and a second elongated member movable along the first member. The first member includes first high bending stiffness sections, first low bending stiffness sections, and a reinforcement member reinforcing a strength of the first member. The reinforcement member includes a contact coil formed of a first wire spirally wound around a longitudinal axis of the reinforcement member, and a stranded tube formed of second wires that are twisted around each other. The second member includes a second high bending stiffness section, and a second low bending stiffness section. The second member is configured to move inside the reinforcement member, thereby changing a stiffness of the variable stiffness device.