Endoscope Auxiliary Device Uniform Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ear pickers face issues with inadequate light utilization, leading to light spots and shadows, which affect observation accuracy and can be harmful due to high brightness, while existing solutions do not effectively address these problems.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope auxiliary device with a light-emitting diode light source, a reflective housing, and optical mesh points on a polymethyl methacrylate probing body that improves light distribution and reduces light spots and shadows, combined with health information and image collecting probes for real-time monitoring and data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a light source is provided on the ear picker, then illumination is improved, but light utilization is insufficient causing light spots and shadows

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveilluminationVSAvoidlight utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light source and the ear canal. The light guide transmits light from the light source to the observation area, improving light utilization efficiency and reducing direct light exposure that causes spots and shadows.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of light transmission by using a light guide with specific optical properties. This transforms the light delivery mechanism from direct emission to guided transmission, optimizing light distribution and reducing unwanted light effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If a light source of high brightness is used, then illumination is improved, but light spots are formed and high brightness may be harmful to the eyes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebrightnessVSAvoideye harm and light spots
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide serves as a mediator that diffuses and distributes high brightness light over a larger area, reducing the intensity of direct light exposure to the eye while maintaining sufficient illumination for observation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide extends the light delivery in a different spatial dimension (through the structure of the light guide itself), allowing light to be distributed over a longer path and larger area, thereby reducing concentrated brightness and harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional materials (metals, plastics, woods or bamboos) are used for ear picker, then manufacturing is simple, but light cannot irradiate to the ear canal effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlight irradiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The ear picker is constructed as a composite device combining traditional materials (for the handle and structure) with optical materials (the light guide made of transparent or translucent material). This composite structure maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling effective light transmission to the ear canal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

Enhances the accuracy and convenience of ear canal observation and cleaning by providing uniform illumination and real-time health monitoring, reducing the risk of light-related injuries and improving the overall effectiveness of the procedure.

Implementation Method 1

a light guide 30 for transmitting light of the light source 5 into the probing body 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical transmission: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

Optical mesh points 6 are provided on a surface of the probing body 2... a polymethyl methacrylate probing body that improves light distribution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering and uniform distribution: Scattering

Implementation Method 3

a reflective housing 4 for reflecting light of the light source 5 into the probing body 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3311732B1Visual inspection assisting equipment
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3311732B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

An endoscope auxiliary device is provided, which can reduce light spot and light shadow formed on an object and improve an accuracy of a result of an endoscope observation. The endoscope auxiliary device includes an operating handle (1) and a probing body (2) connected with each other, wherein, a switching device (3) is provided on the operating handle (1). Optical mesh points (6) are provided on a surface of the probing body (2), and a light source (5) controlled by the switching device and a reflective housing (4) for reflecting light of the light source (5) into the probing body (1) are provided on an end of the probing body (2) close to the operating handle (1).