Endoscope Handle Capacitive Controls for Horizon and Sanitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face challenges in maintaining a constant image horizon without orientation-determining devices and lack user-friendly, easily cleanable controls, particularly in video endoscopes, which also require complex mechanical and manual controls for field of view adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A video endoscope with a capacitive sensing unit on its handle, allowing for camera control through capacitive sensors arranged radially or in a ring, enabling image rotation, horizon maintenance, and user identification, while providing a smooth surface for easy sanitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If buttons are positioned on the outer surface of the camera head or handle, then camera control functions can be accessed, but the surface becomes difficult to clean and sterilize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical buttons with capacitive sensing technology that detects changes in electrical capacitance when a user touches the handle surface. This substitution eliminates the need for physical buttons, grooves, or protrusions, providing a smooth surface that is easy to clean and sterilize while maintaining full camera control functionality through touch-based interaction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer - a capacitive sensing system - between the user and the camera control functions. This intermediary detects touch inputs through the handle surface without requiring direct mechanical contact with buttons, allowing control access while preserving the smoothness and cleanability of the handle surface
2Stability of the object's composition
If the endoscopic shaft is rigidly connected to the handle, then structural stability is improved, but rotation control for field of view adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical rotation control with capacitive sensing-based electronic control. Instead of requiring the user to physically rotate the shaft or handle, touch inputs on the handle surface are detected by capacitive sensors and translated into electronic commands that rotate the image or adjust the field of view, maintaining structural stability while enabling easy rotation control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities through capacitive sensing, allowing the system to respond to various touch gestures (tap, slide, press duration) to control different aspects of image rotation and field of view adjustment, providing flexible operational control without compromising structural rigidity
3Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical controls are used for field of view adjustment, then direct manual control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the capacitive sensing system universal by programming it to recognize multiple touch gestures and map them to different camera control functions. A single smooth handle surface serves multiple purposes: basic touch for capture, sliding gestures for rotation, pressing for focus adjustment, and prolonged contact for mode changes, eliminating the need for separate mechanical controls for each function and reducing overall device complexity
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
Enables flexible control of image functions, maintains a constant horizon, facilitates user identification, and ensures easy cleaning, enhancing user experience and procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The capacitive sensing unit includes a plurality of capacitive sensors arranged radially or in a ring on an outer surface of the handle
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an imaging system including a video endoscope, the video endoscope having a handle, and an endoscope. The endoscope includes an image sensor fixedly mounted within the endoscope. A capacitive sensing unit is disposed along an outer surface of the handle. The capacitive sensing unit includes a plurality of capacitive sensors disposed on the outer surface of the handle. The handle includes an electronic controller operable to process an actuation of the plurality of capacitive sensors so as to control a camera control function and determine a medical procedure and/or an identity of the user.