Endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between high and low beams

Abstract

This application relates to the field of medical optical device technology and discloses an endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams. The system includes multiple illumination channels, each with a light guide window. The light guide window of the first illumination channel has a larger divergence angle, while the light guide window of the second illumination channel has a smaller divergence angle. The incident end face of the fiber bundle includes a central region and an edge region. The fiber in the central region is connected to the first illumination channel, and the fiber in the edge region is connected to the second illumination channel. The energy distribution ratio between the central and edge regions can be changed by adjusting the axial position of the converging lens. This application can simultaneously achieve uniform near-field illumination and energy concentration for far-field illumination, and continuous switching between near and far beams can be achieved by adjusting the axial position of a single lens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of medical device technology, and more particularly to the field of endoscopic illumination systems. Background Technology

[0002] Endoscopes are indispensable instruments in modern medical diagnosis and treatment, and the performance of their lighting systems directly affects the doctor's observation and diagnostic results. During the use of endoscopes, doctors need to observe tissues at different distances, which places high demands on the lighting system.

[0003] Existing endoscopic illumination systems typically employ a fixed structure design, which presents the following technical problems:

[0004] First, during close-up observation, because the spherical waves emitted by the illumination channel are closer to the center of the field of view than to the edge, uneven illumination can easily occur, with excessive or even overexposure at the center of the field of view and insufficient illumination at the edge. This manifests as a bright center and dark edges in the observed image, affecting the doctor's overall observation of the tissue.

[0005] Secondly, when observing at a distance, although the transition from spherical waves to plane waves emitted by the illumination channel improves the problem of uneven illumination to some extent, it is more likely to cause insufficient overall illumination brightness, resulting in a dark overall picture, which is not conducive to the observation and diagnosis of distant lesions.

[0006] Third, traditional fixed-structure illumination systems struggle to meet the needs of both near-field and far-field observation scenarios simultaneously. Current methods primarily address uneven illumination through image algorithms such as dark area enhancement and highlight suppression, but these approaches lead to a decrease in image signal-to-noise ratio and reduced image quality. This issue has become a core pain point in the use of endoscopic products and is also a crucial indicator for evaluating their effectiveness.

[0007] Therefore, the industry urgently needs an endoscopic illumination system that can simultaneously balance near-field illumination uniformity and far-field illumination energy concentration, and can flexibly adjust illumination performance according to the observation distance, in order to improve the clinical effectiveness of endoscopy. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this application is to provide an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams, in order to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0009] This application discloses an endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams, comprising:

[0010] Multiple lighting channels, each lighting channel having a light guide window, wherein the light guide window of the first lighting channel has a first divergence angle, the light guide window of the second lighting channel has a second divergence angle, and the first divergence angle is greater than the second divergence angle;

[0011] An optical fiber bundle includes multiple optical fibers, the emitting ends of which are respectively connected to the multiple lighting channels one-to-one, and the incident ends of the multiple optical fibers converge to form an incident end face of the optical fiber bundle. The incident end face of the optical fiber bundle includes a central region and an edge region, wherein the optical fiber in the central region is connected to the first lighting channel, and the optical fiber in the edge region is connected to the second lighting channel.

[0012] A converging lens, disposed on the optical path of the incident end face of the optical fiber bundle, is a cold light source component. It can move relative to the incident end face along the optical axis and is used to adjust the energy distribution ratio between the incident central region and the edge region by changing its axial position.

[0013] The ratio of the first divergence angle to the second divergence angle ranges from 1.5 to 2.5.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the number of the plurality of lighting channels is 2-3. When the number of lighting channels is 2, it includes one first lighting channel and one second lighting channel; when the number of lighting channels is 3, it includes one second lighting channel and two first lighting channels, with the two second lighting channels symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second lighting channel.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the beam guide is circular, and the cross-sectional area ratio s1:s2 of the beam guide of the first illumination channel to the beam guide of the second illumination channel ranges from 1 to 3.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the first divergence angle and the second divergence angle are each selected from one of the following two ranges: 120° to 150° and 48° to 90°, respectively.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of optical fibers are quartz optical fibers.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the number of optical fibers in the central region to the number of optical fibers in the edge region is approximately equal to the ratio of the areas of the two regions.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the converging lens is a plano-convex lens.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the converging lens is connected to a focusing ring, and the converging lens is moved along the optical axis by rotating the focusing ring.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, by changing the axial position of the converging lens, the energy distribution ratio between the central region and the edge region can be continuously adjusted within the range of all energy coupled into the central region (1:0) to the cross-sectional area ratio of the two beamguides (s1:s2).

[0022] The endoscope illumination system provided in this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] By employing illumination channels with different divergence angles in the optical structure, where the divergence angle ratio of the first and second illumination channels is controlled within the optimal range of 1.5 to 2.5, and by adjusting the position of the converging lens to control the light energy distribution, the illumination system can simultaneously provide large-area uniform illumination at close range and concentrated illumination at long range. Compared with traditional endoscopes, it achieves comparable illumination uniformity during close-range observation and significantly improves the concentration of illumination energy during long-range observation.

[0024] Continuous switching between near and far beams can be achieved by adjusting the axial position of a single converging lens. The structure is simple and easy to operate. By rotating the focusing ring, the energy distribution ratio between the central and edge regions can be continuously adjusted within the range from all energy coupled into the central region (1:0) to the cross-sectional area ratio of the two beam guides (s1:s2), meeting the lighting requirements at different working distances.

[0025] By cleverly utilizing the central and edge regions of the incident end face of the optical fiber bundle to correspond to illumination channels with different divergence angles, and by controlling the cross-sectional area ratio of the guide beam within the range of 1 to 3, the system optimizes illumination performance by adjusting the energy distribution ratio while keeping the total light energy constant, thereby improving the light energy utilization efficiency.

[0026] Compared with traditional endoscopes, this application can achieve a larger range of uniform illumination during close-range observation, and can still maintain a sufficiently large illumination range without obvious illumination unevenness during long-range observation, thus greatly improving the illumination effect at different observation distances.

[0027] The aforementioned technical effects enable this application to effectively solve the problems of uneven illumination and insufficient illuminance that occur in existing endoscopic illumination systems when observing at near and far distances, and it has significant practical value.

[0028] The specification of this application contains numerous technical features distributed across various technical solutions. Listing all possible combinations of these technical features (i.e., technical solutions) would make the specification excessively lengthy. To avoid this problem, the various technical features disclosed in the above-described invention, the various technical features disclosed in the following embodiments and examples, and the various technical features disclosed in the accompanying drawings can be freely combined to form various new technical solutions (all of which are considered to have been described in this specification), unless such a combination of technical features is technically infeasible. For example, one example discloses feature A+B+C, and another example discloses feature A+B+D+E. Features C and D are equivalent technical means that serve the same function, and technically only one needs to be used; they cannot be used simultaneously. Feature E can technically be combined with feature C. Therefore, the solution A+B+C+D should not be considered as described because it is technically infeasible, while the solution A+B+C+E should be considered as described. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the connection between the optical fiber and the illumination channel is shown in an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to a first embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the positions of the endoscope illumination end and the optical fiber incident end of an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to a first embodiment of this application is provided.

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram is shown of an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to a first embodiment of this application, in which the distribution of input energy in the center / edge fiber is varied by adjustment.

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the zoom lens group of an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to a first embodiment of this application is shown.

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the fiber bundle of an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to the first embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the endoscope illumination end of an endoscope illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams according to a first embodiment of this application is shown.

[0035] In all the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same elements or structures, wherein:

[0036] First lighting channel: 11

[0037] Second lighting channel: 21

[0038] Fiber optic bundle: 3

[0039] Fiber bundle incident end face: 31

[0040] Central region of the incident end face: 311

[0041] Incident end face edge region: 312

[0042] Converging lens: 4

[0043] Converging lens: 41

[0044] Moving lens tube: 42

[0045] Focusing ring: 43

[0046] Fixed lens tube: 44

[0047] Collimating lens: 45

[0048] Cold light source: 5 Detailed Implementation

[0049] In the following description, many technical details are presented to help the reader better understand this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the technical solutions claimed in this application can be implemented even without these technical details and various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments.

[0050] The following is a brief summary of some of the innovative aspects of this application:

[0051] Through in-depth research, the inventors of this application have proposed an endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams, addressing the technical problems mentioned above. The core of this system is to design illumination channels with different divergence angles and utilize the axial position adjustment of the converging lens to control the energy distribution ratio between the central and peripheral regions of the fiber bundle, thereby achieving continuous switching between near and far beam illumination modes to adapt to illumination needs at different observation distances.

[0052] Its main technical means include:

[0053] Lighting channel design: The system includes multiple lighting channels, and the light guide windows of the lighting channels have a small divergence angle. The ratio of the divergence angles of the two channels is controlled within the range of 1.5 to 2.5, and the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the light guide beam is controlled within the range of 1 to 3, in order to obtain the best high and low beam lighting effects.

[0054] Fiber bundle energy distribution: The emitting ends of multiple optical fibers correspond one-to-one with the illumination channels, and the incident ends converge to form an end face. The optical fibers in the central region of the end face are connected to the first illumination channel, and the optical fibers in the edge region are connected to the second illumination channel. By adjusting the axial position of the converging lens, the energy distribution ratio can be continuously adjusted within the range from all energy coupled into the central region (1:0) to the cross-sectional area ratio of the two guide beams (s1:s2).

[0055] High / low beam switching: The converging lens is moved to control its relative position to the end face of the fiber bundle. When the light spot coincides with the end face, all the light energy enters the central area, achieving low beam illumination; as the light spot size increases, some energy enters the edge area, introducing high beam illumination; when the light spot fills the entire end face, the low beam and high beam channels operate simultaneously. High / low beam switching can be continuously achieved by adjusting the position of a single lens, resulting in a simple structure.

[0056] This application ingeniously utilizes the center and edge regions of the fiber optic bundle to connect illumination channels with different divergence angles. By adjusting the position of the converging lens, a single variable is used to achieve continuous switching between near and far beam illumination while maintaining a constant total light energy. This solves the problem of existing endoscopes struggling to achieve both uniform near-field illumination and focused far-field illumination, significantly improving the diagnostic and treatment outcomes for doctors at different observation distances and possessing high practical value.

[0057] In the following description, numerous technical details are presented to facilitate the reader's understanding of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the technical solutions claimed in the claims of this application can be implemented even without these technical details and various variations and modifications based on the following embodiments. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the various embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0058] Explanation of some concepts:

[0059] Endoscopic illumination system: refers to the device used to provide illumination in an endoscope, which usually includes a light source, light guide assembly and illumination lens, etc. Its purpose is to provide sufficient and uniform illumination within the endoscopic field of view in order to obtain clear observation images.

[0060] Continuous switching between high and low beams: This refers to the endoscope illumination system's ability to adaptively adjust the energy distribution ratio between the high beam and low beam illumination channels according to different observation distances, thereby achieving the best illumination effect at different working distances.

[0061] High beam illumination channel: A set of optical components in the endoscopic illumination system with a small divergence angle, used to provide focused, long-distance illumination at a greater viewing distance.

[0062] Near beam illumination channel: Another set of optical components in the endoscopic illumination system, with a large divergence angle, is used to provide wide-angle, uniform illumination at a small viewing distance.

[0063] Cold light source: A light source without infrared radiation, usually using xenon lamps or LEDs, which can provide high brightness and high color temperature illumination, and generate less heat, thus avoiding thermal damage to patient tissues.

[0064] Fiber optic bundle: A collection of multiple optical fibers used to transmit light energy in an endoscopic illumination system. One end of the fiber bundle is coupled to a cold light source, and the other end is connected to the illumination lens.

[0065] Central region / Edge region: Different parts of the fiber bundle cross-section. The central region refers to the central part of the fiber bundle cross-section, usually corresponding to the high beam illumination channel; the edge region refers to the outer part of the fiber bundle cross-section, usually corresponding to the low beam illumination channel.

[0066] Converging lens: An optical lens used to focus a parallel beam of light emitted from a cold light source onto the incident end face of an optical fiber bundle. By adjusting the axial distance between the converging lens and the end face of the optical fiber bundle, the size of the incident light spot can be changed, thereby adjusting the energy distribution ratio of the low beam and high beam illumination channels.

[0067] Illuminance: The luminous flux falling on a unit area, used to measure the intensity of light received on the surface of an object being observed, measured in lux (lx). The uniformity of illuminance distribution is an important indicator for evaluating the performance of an endoscopic illumination system.

[0068] Divergence angle: The angle subtended by a beam of light as it exits a light source or illumination lens, used to characterize the degree of diffusion of the illumination light. A larger divergence angle results in a wider illumination range; a smaller divergence angle results in a farther illumination distance. The low beam and high beam illumination channels have different divergence angles to meet illumination needs at different viewing distances.

[0069] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] First Embodiment

[0071] See Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams in this embodiment includes:

[0072] Multiple lighting channels, each of which has a light guide window, wherein the light guide window of the first lighting channel 11 has a first divergence angle θ1, and the light guide window of the second lighting channel 21 has a second divergence angle θ2, wherein the first divergence angle θ1 is greater than the second divergence angle θ2;

[0073] The fiber bundle 3 includes multiple optical fibers, the emitting ends of which are respectively connected to the multiple lighting channels one by one, and the incident ends of the multiple optical fibers converge to form an incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle. The incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle includes a central region 311 and an edge region 312, wherein the optical fiber in the central region 311 is connected to the first lighting channel 11, and the optical fiber in the edge region 312 is connected to the second lighting channel 21.

[0074] The converging lens 4 is disposed on the optical path of the incident end face 31 of the optical fiber bundle. It is a cold light source component and can move relative to the incident end face 31 along the optical axis. It is used to adjust the energy distribution ratio between the incident center region 311 and the edge region 312 by changing its axial position.

[0075] The ratio of the first divergence angle θ1 to the second divergence angle θ2 ranges from 1.5 to 2.5.

[0076] Optionally, the number of the plurality of lighting channels is 2-3. When the number of lighting channels is 2, it includes one first lighting channel 11 and one second lighting channel 21; when the number of lighting channels is 3, it includes one second lighting channel 21 and two first lighting channels 11, and the two first lighting channels 11 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second lighting channel 21.

[0077] Optionally, the cross-sectional shape of the beam guide is circular, and the cross-sectional area ratio s1:s2 of the beam guide of the first lighting channel 11 to the beam guide of the second lighting channel 21 ranges from 1 to 3.

[0078] Optionally, the first divergence angle θ1 and the second divergence angle θ2 are each selected from the following two ranges: 120° to 150° and 48° to 90°, respectively. Preferably, the first divergence angle θ1 is 144° and the second divergence angle θ2 is 71°.

[0079] Optionally, the multiple optical fibers are quartz optical fibers.

[0080] Optionally, the ratio of the number of optical fibers in the central region 311 to the number of optical fibers in the edge region 312 is approximately equal to the ratio of the areas of the two regions.

[0081] Optionally, the converging lens 4 is a plano-convex lens.

[0082] Optionally, the converging lens 4 is connected to the focusing ring, and the converging lens 4 can be moved along the optical axis by rotating the focusing ring.

[0083] Optionally, by changing the axial position of the converging lens 4, the energy distribution ratio between the central region 311 and the edge region 312 can be continuously adjusted within the range from all energy coupled into the central region (1:0) to the cross-sectional area ratio of the two beam guides (s1:s2).

[0084] Specifically, Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an endoscopic illumination system is shown. As shown, the system includes three illumination channels: one second illumination channel 21 and two first illumination channels 11. The two first illumination channels 11 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second illumination channel 21. Each illumination channel has a light guide window. For example, the divergence angle θ1 of the light guide window in the first illumination channel 11 is 144°, and the divergence angle θ2 of the light guide window in the second illumination channel 21 is 71°. That is, the first divergence angle θ1 is greater than the second divergence angle θ2, and their ratio is 2.03, falling within the range of 1.5 to 2.5. Furthermore, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the beam guide of the first illumination channel 11 to the cross-sectional area of ​​the beam guide of the second illumination channel 21, s1:s2, is 2:1, falling within the specified range of 1 to 3.

[0085] More specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the endoscope illumination end includes three illumination channels: a second illumination channel 21 and two first illumination channels 11. The three illumination channels have a circular cross-section, with the second illumination channel 21 located at the center of the illumination end, and the two first illumination channels 11 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second illumination channel 21.

[0086] The main difference between the first illumination channel 11 and the second illumination channel 21 lies in the divergence angle of their light guide windows. In this embodiment, the divergence angle θ1 of the light guide window of the first illumination channel 11 is 144°, suitable for close-range, wide-area illumination; the divergence angle θ2 of the light guide window of the second illumination channel 21 is 71°, which is smaller and more suitable for long-distance focused illumination. The ratio of the two divergence angles is approximately 2.03, falling within the preferred range of 1.5 to 2.5.

[0087] In addition to the divergence angle, this application further improves the effect of near- and far-distance lighting by optimizing the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the beam guide of the first lighting channel 11 to that of the second lighting channel 21. Figure 6 The right side shows an enlarged view of the cross-section, revealing that the cross-sectional diameter of the first illumination channel 11 is larger than that of the second illumination channel 21. In this embodiment, the ratio of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the two first illumination channels to the cross-sectional area of ​​the second illumination channel is 2:1, i.e., s1:s2 = 2:1, falling within the preferred range of 1 to 3. The first illumination channel with a larger cross-sectional area can obtain more light energy, which is beneficial for improving the uniformity of near-field illumination; the second illumination channel with a smaller cross-sectional area can achieve effective transmission and concentration of light energy over long distances by utilizing a small divergence angle.

[0088] It should be noted that, Figure 6 The three-channel design shown is not the only one. Those skilled in the art can also choose other combinations of lighting channels in terms of quantity and arrangement according to specific application needs. As long as the divergence angles of different lighting channels meet a certain proportional relationship and the cross-sectional areas are reasonably matched, the optimized adjustment of the lighting effect at near and far distances can be achieved.

[0089] In summary, the design of the endoscope illumination end in this application has undergone in-depth optimization and innovation, from the structural parameters of individual illumination channels to the overall layout scheme. By cleverly utilizing a combination of light guide windows with different divergence angles, matching a reasonable cross-sectional area distribution of the light guide beam, and a regular circular cross-section design, the design achieves precise control of illumination effects at both near and far distances while maintaining a compact structure. This fully demonstrates the inventor's profound understanding of endoscopic illumination optics and system optimization capabilities. This design, together with other technical features such as the zoom lens group and fiber bundle end-face partitioning, forms the core innovation of the endoscope illumination system described in this application, greatly improving system performance and demonstrating significant technological advancement.

[0090] The system also includes an optical fiber bundle 3 composed of multiple silica optical fibers. The emitting ends of these fibers are connected to the three illumination channels one-to-one, and their incident ends converge to form a circular fiber bundle incident end face 31. This end face includes a central region 311 and an edge region 312. The fibers in the central region 311 are connected to the two first illumination channels 11, and the fibers in the edge region 312 are connected to the second illumination channel 21. The ratio of the number of fibers in the central region 311 to the number of fibers in the edge region 312 is approximately 2:1, equal to the area ratio of the two regions. This design ensures the uniformity of fiber distribution.

[0091] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the fiber bundle 3 consists of multiple optical fibers, each group containing two output ends (left and right) for connection to the illumination channel. The cross-sectional structure of the fiber bundle 3 includes a central region 311 and an edge region 312. As shown, at both ends of the fiber bundle 3, the fibers in the edge region 312 are located on the outer side, while the fibers in the central region 311 are located on the inner side.

[0092] The optical fiber in the central region 311 is connected to the first illumination channel 11, mainly responsible for close-range, wide-area illumination; the optical fiber in the edge region 312 is connected to the second illumination channel 21, mainly responsible for long-range, focused illumination. This symmetrical arrangement of the optical fiber regions and the correspondence with the illumination channels is one of the keys to realizing the continuous switching function between near and far light.

[0093] It should be pointed out that, Figure 5The illustrated fiber bundle cross-section partitioning method is not unique, and those skilled in the art can flexibly choose other partitioning schemes according to specific design requirements. For example, the fiber in the central area can be connected to the high beam illumination channel, and the fiber in the edge area can be connected to the low beam illumination channel. This can be achieved by adjusting the moving direction of the converging lens accordingly during the energy distribution ratio adjustment process.

[0094] It is worth mentioning that the selection of optical fiber material was also optimized in this embodiment. Quartz optical fiber was used in this embodiment. Compared with the ordinary optical fiber commonly used in traditional endoscopes, quartz optical fiber has higher optical transmittance and lower transmission loss, which can further improve light energy utilization efficiency and reduce energy loss during illumination.

[0095] In summary, the fiber bundle 3 in this embodiment features a unique design and optimization in both spatial distribution and material selection. Its central region 311 and edge region 312 correspond to illumination channels with different divergence angles, respectively. While cooperating with the zoom lens group 4 to adjust the energy distribution ratio, it also provides the optical path basis for continuous switching between near and far beam illumination. Furthermore, the use of quartz material further enhances the light transmission efficiency. These features are highly consistent with the overall design concept of this application and together constitute the core components of the endoscope's continuous near and far beam illumination system.

[0096] A converging lens 4, a component of the cold light source host, is disposed in the optical path of the fiber bundle incident end face 31. The converging lens 4 can move along the optical axis, and the energy distribution ratio between the incident central and edge regions can be adjusted by changing its axial position. Specifically, the converging lens 4 is a plano-convex lens connected to a focusing ring. By rotating the focusing ring, the converging lens 4 can be moved along the optical axis. When the focal point of the converging lens 4 coincides with the fiber bundle incident end face, most of the energy will be coupled into the first illumination channel corresponding to the central region (i.e., the energy distribution ratio is close to 1:0), which is suitable for close-range, large-area illumination. As the lens moves away from the end face, the light spot gradually expands, and some energy enters the edge region until the light spot completely covers the entire incident end face. The energy distribution ratio between the center and the edge is close to the area ratio of the two regions, which is 2:1. At this point, both near and far illumination can be provided simultaneously. By adjusting the axial position of the converging lens, the energy distribution ratio can be continuously adjusted within the range of 1:0 to 2:1.

[0097] It should be noted that those skilled in the art should be familiar with the connection between the converging lens and the focusing ring, as well as their working principle; this is a common technique in optical imaging and illumination systems. In various optical instruments such as microscopes, cameras, and endoscopes, rotating the focusing ring to move the lens along the optical axis, thereby changing the optical path parameters and achieving beam convergence or divergence, is a mature and standardized focusing method.

[0098] Specifically, the endoscopic illumination system of this application employs a converging lens that can move along the optical axis to adjust the illumination spot size, thereby achieving continuous adjustment of the near and far beam illumination ratio. This concept itself originates from conventional optical adjustment techniques. However, the innovation of this application lies in the ingenious combination of the lens's converging effect with the specific spatial distribution of the fiber bundle end face: the central and peripheral fiber regions correspond to illumination channels with different divergence angles, and the axial position of the converging lens controls the energy distribution ratio of these two regions, thus achieving stepless adjustment of near and far beam illumination. This design combines a simple focusing mechanism with a carefully designed fiber spatial distribution, using a single mechanical action to simultaneously adjust the ratio of the two illumination channels, maintaining the characteristics of simple and reliable structure while achieving excellent illumination results.

[0099] Therefore, although the focusing ring mechanism used in this application is a conventional technique in the field, its innovation lies in combining this conventional mechanism with a lighting channel of specific parameters and an optimized spatial distribution of the fiber optic bundle to form an ingenious endoscope near and far beam illumination adjustment system. Based on the common understanding of those skilled in the art, and in conjunction with the technical content disclosed in the specification and drawings, even if the focusing ring is not explicitly labeled in the drawings, those skilled in the art can understand the inventor's technical concept and master how to implement this invention.

[0100] Furthermore, Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of the zoom lens group 4 is shown as an example. Figure 4 As shown, the zoom lens group 4 mainly consists of a converging lens 41, a movable lens barrel 42, a focusing ring 43, a fixed lens barrel 44, and a collimating lens 45. The converging lens 41 is positioned in the optical path of the incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle 3, and is used to converge the collimated beam from the cold light source 5 onto the incident end face 31. The relative position of the focal length of the converging lens 41 and the incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle determines the size of the incident light spot, thus affecting the energy distribution ratio among different fiber regions. When the focal point of the converging lens 41 coincides with the incident end face 31, the light spot is smallest, and energy is mainly coupled into the central fiber region; as the converging lens 41 moves away from the incident end face 31, the light spot gradually expands, and more and more energy enters the peripheral fiber regions. The converging lens 41 is fixedly connected to the movable lens barrel 42, which can move along the optical axis within the fixed lens barrel 44, thereby moving the converging lens 41 relative to the incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle, achieving adjustment of the light spot size and energy distribution ratio.

[0101] Both the movable lens barrel 42 and the fixed lens barrel 44 have threads on their outer walls, and they are connected by these threads. The focusing ring 43 is fixedly connected to the movable lens barrel 42. When the focusing ring 43 is rotated, the movable lens barrel 42 moves along the optical axis, driving the converging lens 41 to move, thereby realizing continuous switching adjustment of high and low beam illumination.

[0102] It is worth mentioning that the joint between the focusing ring 43 and the moving lens barrel 42 is also equipped with a scale, which can quantitatively reflect the axial position of the converging lens 41. The interval of the scale is matched with the pitch of the moving lens barrel 42. Every time the focusing ring 43 rotates through a certain angle, it means that the converging lens 41 has moved a specific distance along the optical axis, thereby enabling quantitative control and repeated adjustment of the spot size and energy distribution ratio.

[0103] One end of the fixed endoscope tube 44 is fixedly connected to the illumination interface of the endoscope, and the other end is provided with a collimating lens 45 for collimating the light beam emitted by the cold light source 5. The collimating lens 45 collimates the diverging cold light source beam into parallel light to improve the light energy utilization efficiency. The cold light source 5 can be an LED light source or a xenon lamp, etc., and the beam emitted by it is coupled into the fiber bundle 3 after passing through the collimating lens 45 and the converging lens 41.

[0104] This embodiment cleverly utilizes the axial movement of the converging lens 41 to adjust the light energy distribution, resulting in a simple and reliable structure with a reasonable and compact optical path design. Through the threaded transmission mechanism of the moving lens barrel 42 and the fixed lens barrel 44, in conjunction with the focusing ring 43, a single knob can control the switching between high and low beam illumination, greatly improving the system's operability. Simultaneously, the scaled focusing design ensures the quantitative and repeatable adjustment, while the collimating lens 45 further enhances light energy utilization efficiency. Combining these features, this zoom lens assembly fully leverages the design advantages of different divergence angle illumination channels in this application, achieving precise control of the endoscope illumination spot while maintaining a simple and compact structure, demonstrating a high degree of innovation.

[0105] It should be noted that although the mechanism of adjusting the lens position by the focusing ring is common in optical imaging and illumination systems, the zoom lens group 4 in this embodiment of the application shows obvious innovation in structural design and effect.

[0106] First, the axial movement of the converging lens 41 is cleverly used to continuously adjust the energy distribution in different regions of the fiber bundle. This works closely with the specific distribution pattern of the fiber bundle end face to achieve stepless switching between near and far beam illumination modes. This approach, which combines the focusing mechanism with the spatial distribution of the fiber end face, has not been reported in existing endoscopic illumination systems.

[0107] Secondly, the zoom lens group 4, by setting scales on the focusing ring 43 and the moving lens barrel 42, can quantitatively reflect the axial position change of the converging lens 41, making the adjustment more precise and repeatable. In contrast, traditional focusing rings often lack quantitative design, making it difficult to accurately control the lens displacement and focusing state.

[0108] Furthermore, a collimating lens 45 is placed before the converging lens 41 to improve light energy utilization efficiency, which is also uncommon in the design of endoscopic illumination optical paths. Combined with other unique designs in the invention, such as the reasonable matching of large and small divergence angle light guide channels and the optimization of fiber bundle cross-sectional area distribution, the addition of the zoom lens group 4 not only realizes continuous adjustment of near and far beam illumination, but also maximizes the advantages of each component, resulting in a comprehensive improvement in system performance.

[0109] Therefore, although the zoom lens group 4 utilizes some common components of existing optical systems, it incorporates several unique designs, especially its organic combination with other technical features of this application, producing effects that are not available in the prior art, demonstrating strong innovation.

[0110] Testing showed that the system achieves a uniform illumination range of 33.09mm at close range (10mm), with a light transmission efficiency of 72% for the low-beam illumination channel. At long range (60mm), the illumination range reaches 115.925mm, with a light transmission efficiency of 89% for the high-beam illumination channel, and the peak illuminance is 189% higher than that of traditional fixed lighting, fully meeting the lighting needs at different working distances.

[0111] The endoscopic illumination system in this embodiment utilizes the combination of large and small divergence angle light guide windows and the adjustment of the incident energy ratio in the center and edge regions of the fiber bundle to flexibly switch and adjust near-beam and far-beam illumination. It also features a simple structure and is easy to implement. Through a rationally designed fiber distribution and energy allocation mechanism, it achieves efficient light energy utilization while ensuring the uniformity and adaptability of the illumination.

[0112] It should be noted that, to address the illumination requirements of the endoscope at different observation distances, this embodiment employs two illumination channels with different divergence angles. The near-beam illumination channel has a larger divergence angle (e.g., 144°), providing uniform illumination over a wide area at close range; the far-beam illumination channel has a smaller divergence angle (e.g., 71°), concentrating light energy at long distances to increase illumination intensity. The ratio of the divergence angles of the two channels is controlled between 1.5 and 2.5, and the ratio of their cross-sectional areas is controlled between 1 and 3. Through reasonable parameter matching, optimal illumination effects can be achieved at different working distances. Traditional endoscopes often use illumination channels with fixed divergence angles, making it difficult to balance near-field illumination uniformity and long-distance illumination. This embodiment, however, utilizes the divergence angle and cross-sectional area parameters in optical design to specifically optimize the near-beam and far-beam illumination channels, demonstrating innovation tailored to practical application needs.

[0113] Furthermore, this embodiment cleverly utilizes the correspondence between the central and edge regions of the fiber bundle end face and the near-beam and far-beam illumination channels, respectively. By placing a converging lens between the light source and the fiber and adjusting the lens's position along the optical axis, the proportion of light energy coupled to different regions of the fiber can be controlled, thereby achieving continuous adjustment of the near-beam and far-beam illumination ratio. This design organically combines spatial distribution and energy allocation, allowing simultaneous control of two illumination channels through a single movable lens in the optical path, simplifying the adjustment mechanism. In contrast, traditional solutions often require changing different lenses or complexly moving the endoscope to switch illumination modes, resulting in inconvenient operation and limited flexibility.

[0114] In actual endoscopic diagnosis and treatment, doctors need to repeatedly move the endoscope lens at different observation distances to examine lesions. Therefore, rapid and flexible adjustment of the illumination state is crucial. This embodiment features a focusing ring connected to the converging lens. Doctors can move the lens continuously along the optical axis simply by moving the focusing ring, achieving stepless switching between near-light illumination (lens focal point coinciding with fiber end face) and far-light illumination (light spot completely covering the end face). The entire adjustment process is convenient, intuitive, and keeps pace with the diagnostic and treatment procedures. Traditional endoscopes, on the other hand, either operate in a fixed mode or require multiple steps to switch illumination states, making them unsuitable for real-time observation needs.

[0115] The endoscopic illumination system in this embodiment exhibits significantly improved performance at both near and far distances. Simulation tests show that at near distance (10mm), the system's uniform illumination range reaches 33.09mm, three times that of a conventional endoscope, with a light transmission efficiency of 72% for the near beam illumination channel. At far distance (60mm), the illumination range reaches 115.925mm, 45% higher than a conventional endoscope at the same magnification, with a light transmission efficiency of 89% for the far beam illumination channel and a peak illuminance 189% higher than that of a conventional endoscope. In practical applications, this means that physicians can obtain clearer and more comprehensive near-field tissue details, as well as a deeper and brighter overview of far-field lesions, contributing to more accurate diagnoses.

[0116] In summary, this embodiment addresses the practical needs of observing tissues at different distances during endoscopic diagnosis and treatment. Starting with several key parameters of the optical design, it optimizes and matches the near and far beam illumination channels. It achieves continuous switching between two illumination modes by adjusting the position of a single lens in the optical path, and meets the convenience requirements of diagnostic and treatment operations through a user-friendly zoom design. Ultimately, it significantly improves the illumination performance of the endoscope at different working distances. The entire technical solution is interconnected and highly targeted, demonstrating strong innovation and practical value.

[0117] Working principle:

[0118] The endoscopic illumination system of this application mainly utilizes two light guide windows with different divergence angles and an adjustable fiber bundle 3 energy distribution ratio to achieve continuous adjustment between two modes: near beam illumination (wide range) and far beam illumination (long distance).

[0119] The system includes a first illumination channel 11 (near beam) and a second illumination channel 21 (far beam) with different divergence angles. Taking three illumination channels as an example, the second channel 21 with a small divergence angle (71°) is in the center, and the first channels 11 with two large divergence angles (144°) are symmetrically distributed on both sides. The ratio of divergence angle θ1 to θ2 is 2.03, which meets the design requirement of 1.5 to 2.5. The fiber bundle 3 is composed of quartz optical fibers, and its incident end face 31 is divided into a central region 311 and an edge region 312 with an area ratio of 2:1. The distribution of the number of optical fibers also corresponds to this, and they are connected to the first illumination channel 11 and the second illumination channel 21 respectively.

[0120] The core principle lies in adjusting the energy ratio coupled to the central region 311 and the edge region 312 of the fiber bundle, while maintaining a constant total energy, by moving the converging lens 4 along the optical axis. When the focal point of lens 4 coincides with the end face 31, the vast majority of energy is focused on the central region 311 and coupled into the first illumination channel 11, exiting through its large divergence angle light guide window to form close-range, wide-area illumination. As lens 4 moves away from the end face 31, the spot size gradually increases, and more energy gradually enters the edge region 312, subsequently coupling into the small divergence angle light guide window of the second illumination channel 21 to form long-distance illumination. The energy distribution ratio between the center and the edge can be continuously adjusted between 1:0 (all focused on the center) and 2:1 (corresponding to the area ratio).

[0121] The adjustment process is achieved by rotating the focusing ring connected to lens 4, which moves the plano-convex lens along the optical axis. The movement range covers two states: the focal point coincides with the end face 31, and the focal point is completely separated from it, thus achieving stepless switching between near and far beam illumination. Testing showed that the system can achieve a uniform illumination range of 33.09 mm at close range (10 mm) and 115.925 mm at long range (60 mm), with peak illuminance increased by 189% compared to traditional lighting.

[0122] In summary, this application cleverly utilizes the axial displacement of the converging lens 4 in the optical path, combined with the design of two light guide windows with different divergence angles, to flexibly adjust and optimize the illumination effect of the endoscope at different distances, effectively improving the problem that traditional endoscopes struggle to simultaneously address both near and far illumination. Furthermore, the system has a relatively simple structure, reliable mechanical adjustment methods, and is easy to mass-produce and widely apply.

[0123] A key technical feature of the endoscopic illumination system in this application is that multiple illumination channels employ light guide windows with different divergence angles. The divergence angle θ1 of the light guide window in the first illumination channel 11 is 144°, and the divergence angle θ2 of the light guide window in the second illumination channel 21 is 71°, with a ratio of 2.03, falling within the optimal range of 1.5 to 2.5. The large divergence angle of the first illumination channel 11 creates a wide range of near-end illumination, ensuring uniform illumination during close-range observation; while the small divergence angle of the second illumination channel 21 concentrates energy for far-end illumination, improving illumination intensity during long-range observation. This ingenious combination of the two light guide windows allows the system to simultaneously achieve uniform near-end illumination and concentrated far-end illumination energy, significantly improving light energy utilization.

[0124] Another technical feature is that the cross-sectional areas of the beam guides in the two illumination channels differ to further optimize near-far light energy distribution. The ratio of the cross-sectional area s1 of the first illumination channel 11 to the cross-sectional area s2 of the second illumination channel 21 is 2:1, falling within the design range of 1 to 3. The first channel 11, with its larger cross-sectional area, can obtain more light energy to meet the needs of wide-range near-end illumination, while the second channel 21, with its smaller cross-sectional area, obtains less light energy, but can achieve long-distance energy transmission and concentration through a small divergence angle beam guide window.

[0125] Thanks to the key design features described above, the endoscopic illumination system of the embodiments of this application can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0126] First, the near-end illumination exhibits strong uniformity, while the far-end illumination energy is concentrated, resulting in high light energy utilization. Traditional endoscopes often struggle to simultaneously meet the diverse illumination needs of both wide-range near-end illumination and long-distance far-end illumination. However, the embodiments of this application cleverly utilize the matching of light guide windows with different divergence angles and the cross-sectional area of ​​the light guide beam to optimize the distribution of near-end and far-end light energy under a given total energy. Testing showed that a uniform illumination range of 33.09 mm can be achieved at near-end observation (10 mm), with the light transmission efficiency of the first illumination channel 11 reaching 72%. At far-end observation (60 mm), the illumination range reaches 115.925 mm, the light transmission efficiency of the second illumination channel 21 is increased to 89%, and the peak illuminance is 189% higher than that of traditional fixed illumination. This fully demonstrates that the system can adapt to different usage scenarios, possessing stronger practicality and higher light energy utilization.

[0127] Secondly, switching between high and low beams is simple. Continuous adjustment between the two illumination modes can be achieved simply by moving the converging lens 4 along the optical axis. The adjustment process is completed by a single mechanical mechanism—rotating the focusing ring—making operation convenient and reliable. Compared to traditional endoscopes that require replacing the light guide window or complex optical path adjustments, the adjustment method in this embodiment is more efficient and user-friendly.

[0128] In summary, the key technical solutions adopted by the endoscopic illumination system in the embodiments of this application can achieve excellent near and far end illumination performance and light energy utilization, and the adjustment operation is simple and efficient, which has great innovation and practical value.

[0129] It should be noted that the endoscopic illumination system of this application may have various variations and alternatives in specific implementations.

[0130] First, the number of illumination channels is not limited to the three described in the embodiment; other numbers of illumination channels can also achieve switching between high and low beam illumination. For example, two illumination channels can be used, one being a first illumination channel 11 with a large divergence angle and the other a second illumination channel 21 with a small divergence angle; alternatively, four illumination channels can be used, two being the first illumination channel 11 and two being the second illumination channels 21, symmetrically distributed in pairs. By adjusting the 4-axis position of the converging lens and controlling the energy distribution ratio of different types of channels, continuous adjustment of the high and low beam illumination modes can be achieved.

[0131] Secondly, the distribution of optical fibers within the fiber bundle 3 can also be designed differently. In the embodiment, the optical fiber in the central region 311 corresponds to the first illumination channel 11, and the optical fiber in the edge region 312 corresponds to the second illumination channel 21. However, it can also be reversed, with the optical fiber in the central region 311 connected to the first illumination channel 11 and the optical fiber in the edge region 312 connected to the second illumination channel 21. In this case, as the converging lens 4 moves away from the incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle, the energy proportion of the first illumination channel 11 will gradually increase as the light spot expands from the center to the edge, thus achieving illumination switching from far to near.

[0132] Furthermore, the ratio of the divergence angles θ1 and θ2 of the light guide windows in each lighting channel of the multi-channel lighting system, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas s1 and s2 of the light guide beam, are not limited to the specific values ​​described in the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the combination of these two parameters within the range specified in the claims, according to the design requirements of the endoscope. Specifically, the ratio of the maximum illumination divergence angle to the minimum illumination divergence angle can be selected within the range of 1.5 to 2.5, and the ratio of the maximum cross-sectional area to the minimum cross-sectional area can be selected within the range of 1 to 3. As long as the two parameters work together, the optimized adjustment of the near and far beam illumination effects can be achieved.

[0133] The above-mentioned modifications are all changes made on the basis of maintaining the core technical idea of ​​this application. They can all realize the continuous switching function of high and low beam illumination and all fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0134] Technical effects:

[0135] By employing illumination channels with different divergence angles in the optical structure, where the ratio of the divergence angles θ1 and θ2 of the first illumination channel 11 and the second illumination channel 21 is controlled within the optimal range of 1.5 to 2.5, and by adjusting the position of the converging lens 4 to control the distribution of light energy, the illumination system can simultaneously provide large-area uniform illumination at close range and concentrated illumination at long range. Compared with traditional endoscopes, it achieves comparable illumination uniformity during close-range observation and significantly improves the concentration of illumination energy during long-range observation.

[0136] Continuous switching between near and far beams can be achieved by adjusting the axial position of a single converging lens 4. The structure is simple and the operation is convenient. By rotating the focusing ring, the energy distribution ratio between the central region 311 and the edge region 312 can be continuously adjusted within the range from all energy coupled into the central region 311 (1:0) to the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the two beam guides (s1:s2), meeting the lighting requirements at different working distances.

[0137] By cleverly utilizing the central region 311 and the edge region 312 of the incident end face 31 of the fiber bundle 3 to correspond to illumination channels with different divergence angles, and by controlling the cross-sectional area ratio of the guide beam within the range of 1 to 3, the system optimizes the illumination performance by adjusting the energy distribution ratio while keeping the total light energy constant, thereby improving the light energy utilization efficiency.

[0138] Compared with traditional endoscopes, this application can achieve a larger range of uniform illumination during close-range observation, and can still maintain a sufficiently large illumination range without obvious illumination unevenness during long-range observation, thus greatly improving the illumination effect at different observation distances.

[0139] The aforementioned technical effects enable this application to effectively solve the problems of uneven illumination and insufficient illuminance that occur in existing endoscopic illumination systems when observing at near and far distances, and it has significant practical value.

[0140] It should be noted that all documents mentioned in this application are incorporated herein by reference as if each document were cited individually. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the foregoing teachings of this application, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to this application, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

[0141] Furthermore, in the claims and description of this patent, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. In the claims and description of this patent, if reference is made to performing an action according to an element, it means performing the action at least according to that element, including two cases: performing the action only according to that element, and performing the action according to that element and other elements.

[0142] Although this application has been illustrated and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes in form and detail may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of this application.

Claims

1. An endoscopic illumination system with continuous switching between near and far beams, characterized in that, include: Multiple lighting channels, each lighting channel having a light guide window, wherein the light guide window of the first lighting channel has a first divergence angle, the light guide window of the second lighting channel has a second divergence angle, and the first divergence angle is greater than the second divergence angle; An optical fiber bundle includes multiple optical fibers, the emitting ends of which are respectively connected to the multiple lighting channels one-to-one, and the incident ends of the multiple optical fibers converge to form an incident end face of the optical fiber bundle. The incident end face of the optical fiber bundle includes a central region and an edge region, wherein the optical fiber in the central region is connected to the first lighting channel, and the optical fiber in the edge region is connected to the second lighting channel. A converging lens, disposed on the optical path of the incident end face of the optical fiber bundle, is a cold light source component. It can move relative to the incident end face along the optical axis and is used to adjust the energy distribution ratio between the incident central region and the edge region by changing its axial position. The ratio of the first divergence angle to the second divergence angle ranges from 1.5 to 2.

5.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the plurality of lighting channels is 2-3. When the number of lighting channels is 2, it includes one first lighting channel and one second lighting channel. When the number of lighting channels is 3, it includes one second lighting channel and two first lighting channels, with the two second lighting channels symmetrically arranged on both sides of the second lighting channel.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the beam guide is circular, and the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the beam guide of the first lighting channel to that of the beam guide of the second lighting channel, s1:s2, ranges from 1 to 3.

4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first divergence angle and the second divergence angle are each selected from one of the following two ranges: 120° to 150° and 48° to 90°, respectively.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multiple optical fibers are quartz optical fibers.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ratio of the number of optical fibers in the central region to the number of optical fibers in the edge region is approximately equal to the ratio of the areas of the two regions.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The converging lens is a plano-convex lens.

8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The converging lens is connected to the focusing ring, and the converging lens can be moved along the optical axis by rotating the focusing ring.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, By changing the axial position of the converging lens, the energy distribution ratio between the central region and the edge region can be continuously adjusted within the range from all energy coupled into the central region (1:0) to the cross-sectional area ratio of the two beam guides (s1:s2).

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