Endoscope Handle Illumination via External Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with integrated light sources in the handle generate heat, causing discomfort to practitioners during use, and existing solutions do not effectively address this issue.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design that receives illumination from an external light source and uses a light guide with an illumination splitter to direct light both to the distal portion for target illumination and to the handle, eliminating the need for a light source within the handle and thus reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an integrated light source is placed in the handle, then the handle is illuminated and the target is illuminated, but heat is generated causing discomfort to practitioners
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from the handle and placed externally. The handle illumination function is separated from the light source location, allowing the light source to be positioned away from the handle while still providing illumination to both the target and handle through optical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
An optical coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary to transfer illumination from the external light source to both the target and handle. This mediator enables the light to reach multiple locations without requiring the light source to be physically present at each location, particularly allowing handle illumination without local heat generation.
2Illumination intensity
If an integrated light source is placed in the handle, then both target and handle are illuminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single external light source performs multiple functions by illuminating both the target and the handle simultaneously. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate light sources for each illumination requirement, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive illumination coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination functions for the target and handle are merged into a single system using one external light source. By combining these illumination requirements into one light source with appropriate optical coupling, the patent reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall device architecture.
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 heat in the handle, minimizing practitioner discomfort and simplifying disposal by avoiding heat-generating components, while maintaining effective illumination for both the target and the handle.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide that can receive illumination from a light source that is separate from the endoscope body
Implementation Method 2
The light guide can include an illumination splitter that can split the received illumination into a target illumination and a handle illumination
Implementation Method 3
The light guide can include a textured portion that can split the received illumination into a target illumination and a handle illumination
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope body of an endoscope can include a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, and a distal portion at a distal end of the shaft. The handle can include a light guide that can receive illumination from a light source that is separate from the endoscope body. The light guide can include an illumination splitter that can split the received illumination into a target illumination and a handle illumination. The light guide can propagate the target illumination to the distal portion to illuminate a target. The distal portion can optionally include a camera that can capture an image of the illuminated target. The illumination splitter can propagate the handle illumination to illuminate at least a portion of the handle, such as an instrument port that can provide access to a proximal end of an instrument sheath that extends to the distal portion.