Disposable Endoscope Head Illumination and Fluid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current miniature endoscopes face challenges in maintaining a small diameter while providing adequate illumination and fluid output, often resulting in increased diameter due to illumination fibers or sheaths, which complicates design, increases costs, and reduces disposability and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an LED illumination source positioned within the endoscope head, using a light guide that also functions as a lens holder, with light emitted radially and distally to maintain a small diameter and ensure uniform illumination, and an integrated liquid reservoir and pump within the handle for efficient fluid delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If illumination fibers or sheaths are added to provide adequate illumination, then illumination intensity is improved, but device diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination source (LED) and the optical imaging system into a single integrated head assembly. The LED is positioned within the camera housing, eliminating the need for separate illumination fibers or sheaths that would increase diameter. The optical system serves dual purposes: imaging and light transmission, thereby providing adequate illumination without increasing device diameter beyond what is necessary to house the camera and optical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system in the patent performs multiple functions: it transmits light from the LED source to illuminate the field of view and simultaneously captures the reflected light for imaging. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated illumination fibers, reducing the number of components and maintaining a small device diameter while providing sufficient illumination intensity.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple illumination fibers surround the image guide, then illumination uniformity is improved, but device diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination function into the optical imaging system by positioning an LED within the camera housing. The optical system distributes light uniformly across the field of view through its inherent optical paths, eliminating the need for multiple surrounding illumination fibers while maintaining illumination uniformity and avoiding diameter increase.
3Illumination intensity
If a sheath acts as a waveguide spanning the entire length, then light transmission is improved, but device diameter increases and light absorption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the illumination function from a separate sheath waveguide and integrates it into the optical imaging system. By using the existing optical paths of the imaging system to transmit light from the LED source, the design eliminates the need for a dedicated sheath waveguide, thereby reducing device diameter and minimizing light absorption while maintaining effective light transmission to the field of view.
4Device complexity
If LEDs are embedded in the camera housing, then device complexity is reduced, but device diameter increases due to peripheral LED placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the LED illumination source directly into the camera housing, utilizing the same optical system for both imaging and illumination. This integration maintains design simplicity while avoiding diameter increase because the LED is positioned within the existing camera housing structure, not as a peripheral addition, and shares the optical path with the imaging system.
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 approach allows for a low-cost, disposable endoscope with improved maneuverability and flexibility, capable of entering small anatomical spaces with uniform illumination and reduced risk of contamination, enhancing accessibility for medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide that also functions as a lens holder, with light emitted radially and distally
Implementation Method 2
using a light guide that also functions as a lens holder
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
An endoscope assembly comprising a handle incorporating a liquid reservoir and injection system, a cannula attaching to the handle, and a distally attached miniature imaging head. The imaging head is a transparent tubular shaped body having an essentially closed proximal end, and a tubular wall extending from the closed proximal end to the distal open end of the body. An optical source is attached to the closed proximal end, and its emitted illumination directed into the tubular wall of the body, such that said illumination is partially internally reflected within the tubular wall and is emitted both radially and from the distal open end. The optical source is disposed radially inwards of the outer dimensions of the tubular shaped body. Alternatively, the optical source can be positioned back-to-back with the camera chip. A system is provided for cell collection from the region in which the endoscope is operating.