Endoscope Illumination Apparatus with C-Ring Light-Guiding Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face challenges in providing uniform illumination for clear observation, particularly in preventing halation and reducing illumination unevenness, especially when the distal end portion is close to the observation site, due to the design of the illuminating window and light-guiding mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope incorporates a C-ring-shaped light-guiding plate with reflective and transmissive surfaces, and a wedge-shaped reflective surface to enhance the efficiency of light exit, allowing illuminating light to be directed efficiently towards the observation field while preventing halation and reducing the size of the distal end portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional illuminating window design is used, then the structure is simple, but illumination unevenness and halation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The illuminating window is divided into multiple independent light-guiding plates, each with specific reflective and transmissive surfaces. This segmentation allows precise control of light paths for different observation fields, achieving uniform illumination while managing complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light-guiding plates are assigned different optical properties (reflective surfaces in some areas, transmissive surfaces in others). This local differentiation enables tailored light control for each observation field, eliminating halation and ensuring uniform illumination without requiring complete redesign of the entire structure
2Measurement precision
If the distal end portion is positioned close to the observation site, then observation clarity improves, but halation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful reflected light that causes halation is extracted and redirected away from the observation path. The reflective surfaces are strategically positioned to guide light away from areas where it would create halation, allowing the distal end to be placed close to the observation site without the harmful effect
Solution Approach 2:
The light-guiding plates act as intermediary elements between the light source and the observation site. They mediate the light paths through carefully designed reflective and transmissive surfaces, enabling close positioning for clear observation while preventing direct reflected light from reaching the observer's eye and causing halation
3Area of stationary object
If a larger distal end portion is used, then illumination coverage increases, but the endoscope size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding plates utilize three-dimensional spatial arrangement with reflective and transmissive surfaces positioned at different depths and angles. This dimensional utilization allows the illumination coverage area to be expanded without proportionally increasing the volume of the distal end portion, as the light paths are controlled through spatial configuration rather than simply scaling up the structure
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 configuration ensures effective illumination with reduced illumination unevenness and prevents halation, enabling clear observation images and facilitating diagnosis, while also downsizing the endoscope's distal end portion.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination apparatus for an endoscope guiding externally-entering light to a transparent light-guiding body including an annular portion and making the light exit from the annular portion as illuminating light
Implementation Method 2
a wedge-shaped reflective surface to enhance the efficiency of light exit, allowing illuminating light to be directed efficiently towards the observation field
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination apparatus for an endoscope guiding externally-entering light to a transparent light-guiding body including an annular-shaped annular portion, the annular portion including inner and outer circumferential faces, and making the light exit from the annular portion as illuminating light, wherein the light-guiding body includes: a notch portion formed by cutting out a part of the annular portion so as to form a line extending perpendicularly from the outer circumferential face toward the inner circumference side of the annular portion from a line extending from a point on an outer circumference of a circle in a cross section of the annular portion; and an incident portion that allows the light to enter in a direction along the line extending from the point on the outer circumference, the direction being a direction perpendicular to a cutout surface of the notch portion provided in the annular portion.