|
|
 |
|
| Over – Torque Protection for Articulating Scopes | Arguably, the most troublesome factor associated with articulating fiberscopes and videoscopes is their exceptionally high rate of damage and failure resulting in costly repair or worthless scrap.
The articulating tips of fiberscopes and videoscopes are constructed very similar to the human spinal column. Plastic or metal vertebrae are stacked in a column with each vertebra incorporating one or two sets of pivot points, depending on one or two axes of articulation. High strength articulation cables run through the wall section of the vertebrae and, acting like muscles and tendons, cause the vertebrae to pivot and bend. Within the hollow ID of the vertebrae run the fiber optic image guide or the extremely small video cable wires, along with the illumination fiber bundles, see figure. |
 |
Inadvertent and costly accidental breakage within the articulating device occurs when:
1. operators try to articulate the instrument tip when the tip is constrained and cannot move.
2. operators attempt to withdraw the instrument from an access hole before the tip has been fully straightened.
These unintentional actions place an exceptionally high tension load on the articulation cables. As tension on the cables increases to overcome resistance, the load is transferred to the vertebrae. Eventually, the vertebra column is crushed by the excessive force, cables break and the crushed vertebrae sever the fiber bundles and/or video cable wires. The end result is serious damage to the articulating tip of the instrument, requiring costly repairs or even scrapping the scope.
Certainly, this was a problem in search of a solution. So ITI developed ProTecht®.
ProTecht® is a patented over – torque design that significantly reduces costly accidental breakage within the articulating device.
The ProTecht® system virtually eliminates these types of accidental breakage by placing a load take-up spring between each articulation cable and the articulation control knob. Any load over prescribed limits placed on the articulation cables is taken up by the load spring. Excessive loads are not transmitted to the vertebrae but are taken up by each spring.
To qualify the ProTecht® concept, every ITI articulating scope design is cycle tested to over 100,000 cycles with and 100,000 cycles without the tip constrained (200,000 total cycles). The design is validated only when the tested scope meets its original specifications.
The overall gain in specifying ITI Fiberscopes and Videoscopes with ProTecht® is many trouble free articulating cycles of operation. Longer scope life means lower inspection costs, less downtime and total lower cost of ownership.
Instrument Technology, Inc. (ITI) again leads the way as the "Leader in Remote Viewing". |
|
|
|
|
