Rigid Endoscope Camera Magnification Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigid endoscopes face challenges in achieving a wide field of view and diverse angles while maintaining a narrow diameter, essential for minimally invasive medical procedures, as they require multiple optical components and cameras to be packed within a small incision, limiting their ability to provide panoramic views effectively.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging device with at least two cameras, including a front camera and one or two side cameras, configured to offer variable magnifications, where the cameras are positioned on the distal tip of a rigid shaft, allowing for a continuous panoramic view by adjusting magnification factors and focal lengths, and utilizing digital zoom to ensure objects appear at similar sizes across different camera fields of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras and optical components are placed in the distal tip to achieve wide field of view and diverse angles, then the field of view and viewing angles are improved, but the outer diameter of the distal tip increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using cameras with different focal lengths (e.g., 4mm, 6mm, 8mm) to achieve varied magnification factors. This allows the system to capture wide field of view with multiple cameras while maintaining a compact distal tip diameter of 10mm or less, as the different focal lengths enable diverse viewing angles without requiring larger camera sensors or additional optical components that would increase the outer diameter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cameras with different focal lengths are used to provide variable magnification, then the magnification capability is improved, but the complexity of optical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging function by using multiple independent cameras (front camera and side cameras) with different focal lengths rather than a single complex optical system. Each camera is a separate, relatively simple module that can be independently positioned and focused, eliminating the need for complex variable focal length lenses or movable optical components within a single camera system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are positioned at different locations to capture diverse angles, then the viewing angles are improved, but the alignment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the cameras at specific locations on the distal tip (front camera at the front surface, side cameras on lateral surfaces) and pre-configuring their focal lengths during manufacturing. This preliminary positioning and configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time alignment adjustments during medical procedures, as the geometric relationships between cameras are fixed and optimized for panoramic view construction.
Data Source
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AI summary
The subject matter disclosed in the present invention discloses a medical imaging device comprising at least two cameras. The medical imaging device comprises an elongated and narrow distal tip connected to a rigid elongated shaft member, wherein the distal tip can comprise a front camera and a first side camera. The cameras of the disclosed medical imaging device can be configured to provide variable cameras' magnifications, which in some cases may vary from one camera to another. The distal tip can comprise some optical gear required for the medical procedures. The optical gear located in the distal tip can comprise cameras, lenses and light sources required for the camera functioning. The cameras of the medical imaging device may be provided with dissimilarity in the cameras' magnification factors. Such dissimilarities are used to show the same object in the same size in a panoramic image captured simultaneously by multiple cameras, as the multiple cameras have multiple distances to the object. In some cases, the dissimilarity in the cameras' magnification factors may be achieved by cameras with lenses, or in some cases, lens assemblies characterized by different focal lengths. In some cases, the dissimilarity in the cameras' magnification factors may be achieved by cameras with sensors characterized by different sizes.