Repairing a Bending Rubber Endoscope

Bending rubber is one of the most vulnerable sections in a flexible endoscope and is prone to damage. Performing repairs correctly will protect patients, extend the life of your scope and keep repair costs low.

The bending rubber section of the endoscope runs from the epoxy band adjacent to the insertion tube to the distal cap. This section contains three parts: the bending rubber, bending mesh and angulation collar.

Bending Parts

A bending rubber endoscope provides various bending parts, including a bending portion 12 having a curved surface that is adapted to be inserted into a subject/object for observation. It also includes a distal end portion 11 and a flexible tube portion 13 connected so as to be continuous with the distal end portion in this order from the distal end side, and has an elongated shape that enables easy insertion into a subject/object.

In some endoscopes 1, a bending portion 12 of the bending tube unit 40 a is provided in a bending portion 12 of the insertion portion 10 of an endoscope 1. A distalmost end bending piece 23 of the later-described bending portion 12 is fitted on a distal end rigid member 20; and a bending rubber 26 that serves as a soft outer covering is disposed so as to cover an outer peripheral part of a plurality of bending pieces 24 (24 a, 24 b) pivotally provided so as to be continuous with one another and a proximalmost end bending piece 25 and an outer peripheral part of the distal end rigid member 20, via a braid 28.

As the braid 28 is disposed so as to cover only the outer peripheral portion of the plurality of bending pieces 24 (24), the bending rubber 26 of the bending tube 40 of this modification is not caught in the clearances C1, C3 not covered by the braid 28, and thus the bending rubber 26 is prevented from being cut and damaged when the bending portion 12 is bent in a linear state, as shown in FIG. 6.

However, if the bending rubber 26 is inserted in a curved position, the bending portion 12 may not be able to be inserted into a subject/object smoothly as a result of the irregularities in an outer surface of the bending rubber 26, for example. As a consequence, the bending portion 12 may be damaged, and the insertion of the insertion portion 10 into a subject/object for observation can be difficult.

As mentioned above, the bending tube unit 40 a of this modification enables easy management of parts in manufacture and cost reduction as a result of mass production, and also enhances the assemblability of insertion portions 10 of endoscopes 1. This modification provides a bending tube unit 40 a that can be fitted in common to various distal end portions 11 a, 11 b and flexible tube portions 13 a, 13 b having different specifications.

Bending Mesh

A bending rubber endoscope is used to observe internal body parts. They can be made from a variety of different materials, including synthetic rubber and polyurethane. They are used to perform various types of examinations, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).

In a bending bending rubber endoscope rubber endoscope, the bending part is attached to the flexible tube part with a metal screw 5. A string 62 is then wound around the bending rubber, and coated with adhesive 64.

The bending rubber is designed to be flexible and resilient. This allows the endoscopist to manipulate the bending section easily. It is also designed to withstand the forces of the body and the air that is pumped into the tube.

When a bending rubber is damaged, it can lead to the endoscope not being able to be inserted into the subject smoothly. It can also cause the insertion section to become loose or break.

This can prevent the endoscope from functioning properly, which can be harmful to the patient. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the bending rubber is in good condition.

In addition, a bending rubber endoscope may be prone to damage from storage issues. If it is stored in a drawer or cabinet, it can be compressed and pinched, which can cause damage to the bending rubber.

Therefore, it is important to protect the bending rubber by storing it in a way that is not prone to damage. Another tip is to take it to a repair facility if it becomes damaged so that they can fix it for you.

If you are a healthcare professional and you own an esophagogastroduodenoscope, you should understand how to keep it in good shape. One of the best ways to do this is by learning how to maintain the bending rubber.

You can also perform simple repairs and renewals of the bending rubber. This can help you to avoid costly repairs down the road.

In addition, you should know how to replace the angulation wires and mesh if they become damaged. This will help to improve the angulation of the bending rubber and ensure that it bends and angulates as per manufacturer specifications.

Angulation Collar

A bending rubber endoscope is a flexible tube that is used to inspect the gastrointestinal tract. It is often used for colonoscopy, but can also be used to examine the lungs. It is a thin, flexible material that is easily damaged and is prone to cracks and tears.

The bending rubber section is one of the most susceptible areas of the endoscope. This area runs from the epoxy band adjacent to the insertion tube all the way to the distal cap. It is therefore very important to protect it from damage.

An angulation collar is designed to prevent bending of the bending rubber endoscope. This is a very important part of the device and should be maintained and replaced at regular intervals.

Various angulation collars have been developed, some of which include spring-back features that allow the user to switch between a brake and an angulation control. In the brake mode, the user rotates the angulation control knob from an initial position to a specified angulation position (he can release his finger from the knob).

Other angulation collars feature an electrical actuator that uses a linear encoder to detect and measure the movement of the bending rubber endoscope. Using two encoders reduces the effect of backlash and improves the accuracy of the system.

In addition to detecting the movement of the bending rubber endoscope, a sensor can be placed on the lateral wall of the pulley to determine its position. The sensor is read or sensed by an optical or magnetic encoder, which can be implemented on the lateral wall of the pulley.

Another type of angulation collar is a button or sensor that can be placed on the control body grip. This can be either the right or left side of the grip, and the user can use his fingers for working the button or sensor or his palm to push the button.

A hysteresis plot was used to determine the tip response of an endoscope based on maximal bending angles and cable slackness. The hysteresis plot was obtained by rotating the navigation wheels of a colonoscope and a gastroscope in alternating up-and-down and left-and-right bending directions. The resulting data were processed using Matlab, version R2013b (MathWorks; Natick, Massachusetts).

Angling Knob

The angling knob is the most important piece of the bending rubber endoscope, as it allows the endoscopist to adjust the insertion portion within the body cavity. The knob is generally cylindrical and angled in two directions. It is located on the right-hand side of the scope handle and may be made from injection-molded plastic or polyether block amides.

The knob is controlled by an internal larger knob that moves the tip of the endoscope upward and a smaller knob that controls downward deflection. The knobs can be locked to reduce the amount of deflection variance.

To operate the knob, the endoscopist turns the knob with the thumb and forefinger of their left hand. This is an easy way to control the angling of the endoscope.

However, the bending rubber is very soft and may become distorted or even break with excessive use. This is especially true for the proximal end of the scope. In order to avoid this problem, the bending rubber is typically made of a harder material.

In addition to the angling knob, the bending rubber endoscope is designed with several other features that allow the endoscopist to manipulate the insertion portion of the scope. The insertion section is connected with a grip and first to third balloons, as shown in FIGS. 16a to 16d.

When the insertion section is inserted into a subject, the endoscopist can adjust the insertion portion with the bending knob to release the intestine bending rubber endoscope C. The bending knob also facilitates the insertion of the distal end of the insertion section into the large intestine C.

According to one embodiment, the bending rubber endoscope is configured so that the insertion portion is more stiff than the proximal end of the bending portion, allowing the insertion portion to be more flexible during angling. This is done by placing a second bending piece in the bending portion, which is thinner than the bending piece of the proximal end.

This enables the insertion portion to be easily bent, whereas the bending piece of the proximal bending section is more rigid and requires additional force to bend. This helps the endoscopist maneuver the insertion portion of the scope, particularly in tight spaces.