Endoscope Imaging Module LED Illumination Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes with light guide fibers face issues such as rigidity, reduced flexibility, increased diameter, and higher costs due to the need for multiple optical fibers to achieve sufficient illuminance, leading to potential breakage and increased material costs.
Innovation Solution
An imaging module that replaces light guide fibers with a configuration of light-emitting diodes and a solid-state image sensing device on a single support substrate, allowing for miniaturization and sufficient illuminance without the need for a light guide fiber, enabling a smaller diameter endoscope and catheter design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light guide fiber is used for illumination, then illuminance can be provided, but flexibility is degraded due to rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the illumination function from the light guide fiber system and implements it using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) directly positioned at the distal end of the endoscope. This eliminates the need for light guide fibers that extend through the entire length of the endoscope, thereby removing the source of rigidity while preserving the illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical light guide fiber system with an electronic illumination system using LEDs. This substitution eliminates the physical constraints of optical fibers and enables the endoscope to achieve high flexibility while maintaining sufficient illuminance at the distal end.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple optical fibers are used to achieve sufficient illuminance, then illuminance can be improved, but diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function into a single integrated LED unit at the distal end, replacing the need for multiple separate optical fibers. This merging of the illumination system into a compact configuration reduces the overall diameter of the endoscope while maintaining sufficient illuminance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a volumetric arrangement of multiple optical fibers to a planar arrangement of LED chips on a substrate. This dimensional change allows for more efficient space utilization and reduces the cross-sectional area required for illumination, thereby decreasing the endoscope diameter.
3Illumination intensity
If light guide fiber is arranged in entire length of endoscope, then illumination can be provided, but working channel size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the illumination components from the internal structure of the endoscope by positioning LEDs at the distal end outside the working channel. This extraction eliminates the need for light guide fibers to occupy space within the endoscope body, thereby maximizing the working channel area.
4Illumination intensity
If light guide fiber is used, then illumination function is achieved, but material costs and assembling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LEDs, which are inexpensive semiconductor devices with long operational lifetimes, replacing expensive and fragile light guide fibers. This substitution significantly reduces both material costs and assembling costs while maintaining the illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the illumination system from optical fiber-based light transmission to LED-based light emission. This parameter change enables the use of cheaper, easier-to-manufacture components while achieving the same illumination function.
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
The solution provides a compact, cost-effective endoscope and catheter with sufficient illuminance, eliminating the risks of optical fiber breakage and size increases, while maintaining image quality without the use of light guide fibers.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting diode disposed on the support substrate and configured to emit light
Implementation Method 2
a solid-state image sensing device disposed on the support substrate and configured to image a reflection of the light emitted from the light-emitting diode
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
An imaging module of the invention includes: a support substrate that includes a first surface, a second surface located on an opposite side of the first surface, and a first mounting terminal provided on the first surface; a planar light emitter that includes a light-emitting face and a light-emitter terminal connected to the first mounting terminal, and is mounted on the first surface of the support substrate; and a solid-state image sensing device that includes a light-incident surface formed in a quadrangular shape in plan view, is disposed adjacent to the planar light emitter, and captures an image of an imaging object to be irradiated with light emitted from the light-emitting face.