Endoscope Distal Lens Anti-Fogging via Actuator Coil Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes face fogging issues on the distal end lens due to temperature and humidity differences during medical or industrial use, which impede observation and require effective prevention or removal methods.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a dual-purpose coil that serves both as a heat generation and lens driving mechanism, using a thermistor to detect temperature and adjust heating to prevent or remove fogging on the distal end lens, while also allowing for adjustable optical characteristics like focal depth and magnification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate heater is added to prevent fogging, then fogging prevention capability is improved, but device complexity and insertion portion diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater coil with the actuator unit that drives the movable lens barrel. The same coil structure serves dual purposes: generating electromagnetic force to move the lens barrel and generating heat to prevent fogging on the distal end lens. This merging eliminates the need for a separate heater component and reduces overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil in the actuator unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both the driving element for lens barrel movement and as a heating element for fogging prevention. By making the coil universal, the patent avoids adding extra components while maintaining both lens adjustment capability and anti-fogging functionality.
2Reliability
If a separate heater is added to prevent fogging, then fogging prevention capability is improved, but insertion portion diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heater coil is merged with the actuator unit's coil structure, allowing both heating and lens driving functions to be achieved within the same component footprint. This integration prevents the need to add extra diameter to accommodate a separate heater.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator coil serves dual purposes as both a driving mechanism and a heating element. This multi-functionality allows the insertion portion to maintain its original diameter while still providing effective fogging prevention through the heat generated by the coil.
3Reliability
If heating power is increased to remove fogging, then fogging removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the temperature of the distal end lens and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the power supplied to the coil, increasing power only when fogging is detected (when temperature drops below a threshold) and reducing power when the lens reaches the target temperature. This feedback control optimizes energy consumption while maintaining effective fogging prevention.
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
Effectively prevents fogging on the distal end lens, ensuring clear observation and maintaining the ability to adjust optical characteristics without increasing the insertion portion's diameter, thus improving operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel and generates heat by receiving a supply of electric power
Implementation Method 2
an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope includes: a first lens located at a distal-most position, a part of the first lens being exposed outside; a movable lens barrel configured to be able to move, and configured to hold a movable lens disposed on a proximal end side with respect to the first lens; an actuator unit including a coil that drives the movable lens barrel and generates heat by receiving a supply of electric power; and a control section that outputs first electric power to the coil when holding the movable lens barrel at a predetermined position, and outputs second electric power larger than the first electric power to the coil when conducting heat generated from the coil to the first lens at the predetermined position.