Endoscope Imaging Device with Curved Refracting Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopes face challenges in achieving high imaging quality and precision for inspecting thin-caliber cavities and hollow organs due to limitations in optical inspection instruments, particularly in manufacturing smaller structures and maintaining image quality with curved light-refracting interfaces.
Innovation Solution
The development of an endoscope with a shaft having a distal end equipped with an optical imaging device featuring curved light-refracting interfaces tilted in relation to each other, allowing for a non-parallel viewing direction and large image angle without reflecting surfaces, and produced using 3D printing techniques with materials like glass and plastic, facilitating precise and cost-effective manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional optical inspection instruments are used, then manufacturing precision is limited, but achieving high imaging quality for thin-caliber cavities requires improved manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies two-photon polymerization to fundamentally change the manufacturing parameter regime, enabling sub-micrometer precision (below 1 µm) in optical elements that was previously unattainable with conventional manufacturing methods. This allows precise fabrication of curved light-refracting interfaces and microlens arrays in the imaging device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical/optical relay systems with a digital light processing approach using microlens arrays and curved light-refracting interfaces fabricated by two-photon polymerization. This substitution enables high imaging quality in thin-caliber endoscopes while simplifying the manufacturing process through direct digital fabrication.
2Length of moving object
If the endoscope shaft is made thinner for inspecting small cavities, then access to small cavities is improved, but maintaining image quality becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates curved light-refracting interfaces with specifically designed curvatures to focus and guide light effectively within the constrained space of a thin shaft. The curved interfaces compensate for the limited space by optimizing light paths, maintaining high imaging quality despite the reduced shaft diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests multiple optical functions within a compact imaging device at the distal end of the thin shaft. The imaging device integrates curved light-refracting interfaces, microlens arrays, and image sensors in a nested configuration, allowing high imaging quality to be achieved within the limited space of a thin shaft.
3Adaptability or versatility
If curved light-refracting interfaces are used to achieve large image angle and non-parallel viewing direction, then viewing flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical arrangements of multiple optical elements with a simplified integrated imaging device where curved light-refracting interfaces are directly fabricated. The two-photon polymerization process allows these complex curved surfaces to be manufactured as monolithic structures, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining viewing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple optical functions (light refraction, focusing, and imaging) into a single integrated imaging device with curved light-refracting interfaces. This consolidation achieves large image angles and non-parallel viewing directions while reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device structure.
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 enables high imaging quality and flexibility in viewing directions, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while maintaining precision, suitable for medical and technical applications such as sialendoscopy and ductoscopy.
Implementation Method 1
the imaging device has curved light-refracting interfaces, which are tilted in relation to one another
Implementation Method 2
a first three-dimensional microstructure in the form of the imaging device is formed from a photoreactive precursor material by means of a 3D printer, in particular by means of a 3D printer using two-photon absorption
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes a shaft having a distal end, an optical imaging device at the distal end of the shaft for producing a real image of an object observed by means of the endoscope and at least one of an image transfer device for transmitting the real image and an image sensor for capturing the real image. The imaging device has curved light-refracting interfaces, which are tilted in relation to one another.