Endoscope Illumination Unit Wettability Design
Solution Overview
Problem
Current illumination units for endoscopes using laser light guided by optical fibers face challenges in maintaining uniform distal end thickness and preventing light converter attachment, leading to heat generation and reduced illumination efficiency due to wettability issues between the light guide and converter components.
Innovation Solution
The illumination unit incorporates a light guide with a core and clad, featuring a wettability reducing portion on the distal end side surface and a wettability improving portion on the distal end face, preventing the light converter from attaching to the side surface and ensuring uniform thickness, while using diffusion particles for efficient light distribution and heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light guide and light converter are assembled with high wettability between surfaces, then the assembly is secure and integrated well, but the light converter attaches to the distal end side surface causing non-uniform thickness and potential malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is designed with different wettability characteristics at different locations: the distal end face has high wettability to ensure secure attachment of the light converter, while the distal end side surface has low wettability to prevent unwanted attachment. This spatial variation in surface properties allows simultaneous achievement of reliable assembly and uniform thickness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the light converter is securely attached to the light guide, then illumination efficiency is improved, but heat generation increases due to poor thermal management
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide incorporates a distal end face with high wettability for secure light converter attachment to maximize illumination efficiency, while the distal end side surface maintains low wettability to prevent attachment and allow heat dissipation, thus managing thermal characteristics locally.
3Strength
If the distal end side surface of the light guide has high wettability for the enclosing member, then the enclosing member adheres well providing structural support, but the light converter may attach to the side surface causing assembly defects
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide is engineered with spatially differentiated wettability: the distal end face exhibits high wettability to ensure proper enclosing member adhesion and structural support, while the distal end side surface exhibits low wettability to prevent light converter attachment and maintain assembly quality.
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 configuration enhances the assembly and integration of the illumination unit into the endoscope, reduces heat generation, and improves light distribution, maintaining illumination efficiency and uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
a clad provided on the outer circumference of the core and having a refraction index smaller than the refraction index of the core
Implementation Method 2
Wettability which the distal end side surface of the light guide has for an enclosing member of the light converter is lower than the wettability which the distal end face of the core has for the enclosing member
Implementation Method 3
a wettability improving portion on the distal end face, wherein wettability which the distal end face has for the enclosing member is higher than wettability which the distal end side surface has for the enclosing member
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination unit includes a light guide and a light converter. Wettability which a distal end side surface of the light guide has for an enclosing member of the light converter is lower than wettability which a distal end face has for the enclosing member.