Endoscope Illumination Light Converter Incident Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope illumination systems using single-line light guiding members face challenges in efficiently converting primary light into secondary light for effective illumination and monitoring light quantity for safety, leading to potential failures and safety risks due to inadequate light quantity and sensitivity of detection systems.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope illumination device incorporates a light source, a multi-mode optical fiber, an optical coupler, and a distal end unit with a fluorescent substance, where the optical fiber and fluorescent substance are arranged to ensure an incident angle of secondary light equal to or greater than the acceptance angle of the optical fiber, enhancing light quantity and using a detection system to monitor return light for failure detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the optical fiber and fluorescent substance are arranged with insufficient distance, then the light quantity of return light increases, but the incident angle of secondary light becomes smaller than the acceptance angle of the optical fiber, reducing light coupling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent member is introduced as an intermediary between the optical fiber and the fluorescent substance. This transparent member mediates the optical interaction by allowing secondary light to pass through while maintaining the geometric relationship needed for proper incident angles. The transparent member enables the optical fiber to be positioned at a distance from the fluorescent substance while still achieving effective light coupling, thus resolving the contradiction between increasing return light quantity and maintaining coupling efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If a high-sensitivity detection system is used to monitor light quantity, then safety monitoring capability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the return light itself as the monitoring signal without requiring external complex detection equipment. By measuring the intensity of return light that naturally couples back into the optical fiber, the system achieves safety monitoring using simple photodetectors already present in the endoscope system. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate high-sensitivity detection systems while maintaining adequate safety monitoring capability.
3Productivity
If the optical fiber is positioned closer to the fluorescent substance, then more secondary light enters the optical fiber, but the incident angle condition is not satisfied and light coupling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent member serves as a mediator that decouples the positional relationship from the optical coupling relationship. It allows the optical fiber to be positioned at an optimal distance from the fluorescent substance for maximum light collection, while the transparent member's optical properties ensure that the incident angle conditions are satisfied. This resolves the contradiction by separating mechanical positioning requirements from optical coupling requirements.
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 improves the light quantity of return light, enabling stable operation with low-cost light receiving elements and ensuring user safety by instantaneously detecting failures and adjusting the light output, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of the illumination system.
Implementation Method 1
a light converter that is disposed to face the first end face, includes a second end face which the primary light enters, converts part of the primary light into secondary light
Implementation Method 2
a light guide that includes a first end face from which the primary light is radiated, and guides the primary light
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope illumination device includes a light source that outputs primary light, a light guide that includes a first end face from which the primary light is radiated, and guides the primary light, and a light converter that is disposed to face the first end face, includes a second end face which the primary light enters, converts part of the primary light into secondary light. The illumination device also includes a holder that holds the light guide and the light converter so that an incident angle of the secondary light that is radiated from a point of intersection of the second end face and an optical axis of the light guide on the first end face and enters the first end face is equal to or larger than an acceptance angle (NA) of the light guide.