Endoscopic Heat Pipe Clamping for Thermal Stress Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endoscopic illumination systems face challenges in heat dissipation, leading to overheating and reduced design flexibility due to rigid heat pipe attachments, which can cause internal stresses and imaging distortion.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring reversibly detachable heat pipes between a heat dissipation element and a clamping element, allowing for increased freedom in structural design and heat transfer surface area, without permanent attachment to the heat source or dissipation element, using thermally conductive materials and optional heat-conducting paste for enhanced thermal coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heat pipes are rigidly attached to the heat source and dissipation element, then heat transfer stability is improved, but internal stresses cause imaging distortion and reduce design flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer stabilityVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The heat pipe connection is changed from rigid to dynamic through the clamping element, which allows reversible attachment and detachment. This enables the system to adapt to different design configurations while maintaining heat transfer functionality, resolving the contradiction between stability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heat pipe connection is segmented into separate components: the heat pipe itself, the clamping element, and the heat dissipation element. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and facilitates easier assembly, disassembly, and design modification without compromising the overall heat transfer stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If heat pipes are soldered or welded to the heat source, then thermal coupling is improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty of repair increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal couplingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping element serves as an intermediary between the heat pipe and the heat dissipation element, providing a mechanical connection that maintains thermal coupling without requiring soldering or welding. This intermediary component simplifies manufacturing and enables easy repair by allowing straightforward assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the thermal-joining methods (soldering, welding) with a mechanical clamping system. This substitution maintains effective thermal coupling through direct contact while avoiding the complexity and irreversibility of metallurgical joining processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Temperature

If flow passages are integrated within the housing for heat dissipation, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but housing design freedom is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation capabilityVSAvoidhousing design freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat dissipation function is extracted from the housing structure and implemented as a separate, modular heat dissipation element. This element can be attached to or removed from the housing as needed, providing effective heat dissipation through dedicated flow passages without constraining the overall housing design freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution reduces internal stresses, increases heat dissipation efficiency, and allows for modular design and easy retrofitting, while maintaining high thermal conductivity and flexibility in the arrangement of heat sources within the endoscopic illumination apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

a heat pipe (32) having a first end region (40) and a second end region (42), wherein a first end region (40) of the heat pipe (32) is held between a heat dissipation element (30) and a clamping element (38)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat pipe: Heat Pipe

Implementation Method 2

The heat pipe is adapted to conduct the thermal energy of the heat source to the heat sink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a heat dissipation element (30) for dissipating thermal energy from the first heat source (28)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11693228B2Device for heat dissipation from an endoscopic illumination apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG

AI summary

Device for an endoscopic illumination apparatus comprising a heat pipe having a first end region and a second end region; a first heat source; a heat dissipation element for dissipating thermal energy from said first heat source; a heat sink spaced apart from the first heat source; and a clamping element, wherein the clamping element is reversibly detachably mounted on the heat dissipation element such that the first end region of the heat pipe is held between the heat dissipation element and the clamping element, wherein the heat pipe is adapted to conduct the thermal energy of the heat source to the heat sink, wherein the second end region of the heat pipe is spaced apart from the first end region, and wherein the second end region ends in the heat sink.