Coaxial Sliding Contacts for Rotating Endoscope Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
The transfer of power, control signals, and image signals to and from an image sensor located at the distal end of a medical scope, particularly in a small volume and long, thin shaft, is challenging due to the need for pivotability or rotatability, which existing technologies struggle to address efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A medical scope design utilizing a serializer and deserializer with a two-conductor interface and multi-conductor interface, along with sliding contacts that are coaxial, allowing for the transfer of power, control, and image signals through a single pair of conductors, facilitating pivotability and rotatability of the image sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a multi-conductor connection is used to transfer power, control signals, and image signals, then the signal transfer capability is sufficient, but the space required and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling a two-conductor interface to perform multiple functions simultaneously: transferring power, control signals, and image signals. The serializer and deserializer convert parallel multi-conductor signals to serial two-conductor transmission, allowing all signal types to share the same physical medium, thereby reducing the number of conductors and space required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal transmission function into separate signal types (power, control, image data) that can be multiplexed over the two-conductor interface. By dividing the transmission protocol into distinct signal phases and using encoding schemes, multiple functions are achieved through time-division and frequency-division multiplexing on the same physical conductors
2Ease of operation
If the image sensor is made pivotable or rotatable to enhance operational flexibility, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of signal transfer increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sliding contacts as intermediary elements that facilitate signal transfer across the pivotable joint. These coaxial sliding contacts maintain continuous electrical connection during rotation, acting as a mediator that decouples the mechanical rotation from the electrical connection complexity, thereby enabling easy operation without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical rotary connectors with a simplified sliding contact mechanism. Instead of using traditional rotary connectors that require multiple contacts and precise alignment, the invention uses sliding contacts that maintain electrical connection through linear sliding motion, reducing mechanical complexity while preserving pivotability
3Ease of operation
If coaxial sliding contacts are used to facilitate rotation, then the ease of operation improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the sliding contacts, specifically designing them with coaxial cylindrical surfaces. This parameter change allows the contacts to self-align during assembly and operation, reducing the impact of manufacturing tolerances. The coaxial geometry provides natural alignment features that compensate for minor dimensional variations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces the space required for signal and power transfer, enabling seamless rotation and separation of components, enhancing the usability and maintainability of medical scopes like endoscopes and exoscopes.
Implementation Method 1
a first sliding contact and a second sliding contact connected to the two-conductor first interface of the serializer, a third sliding contact in electrically conductive contact to the first sliding contact and a fourth sliding contact in electrically conductive contact to the second sliding contact, wherein at least two of the first sliding contact, the second sliding contact, the third sliding contact and the fourth sliding contact are coaxial
Data Source
AI summary
A medical scope (10) comprises an objective (42) forming an image of an object; an image sensor (44) capturing the image formed by the objective (42) and providing an image signal representing the captured image; a serializer (50) comprising a two-conductor first interface (52) and a multi-conductor second interface (54) connected to the image sensor (44); a first sliding contact (71) and a second sliding contact (72) connected to the two-conductor first interface (52) of the serializer (50); a third sliding contact (73) in electrically conductive contact to the first sliding contact (71) and a fourth sliding contact (74) in electrically conductive contact to the second sliding contact (72). The at least two of the first sliding contact (71), the second sliding contact (72), the third sliding contact (73) and the fourth sliding contact (74) are coaxial.