Endoscope Light Guide Bonding with Inflexible Adhesive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical endoscopes with semi-flexible shafts face challenges in protecting optical fibers from damage due to deformation, friction, and pressure, particularly in the distal end area with non-round cross-sections, where traditional shrink tubes are not applicable, leading to reduced light yield.
Innovation Solution
The use of an inflexible adhesive to glue optical fibers in the distal end area of the endoscope shaft, providing mechanical protection and preventing damage from deformation, friction, or pressure, eliminating the need for separate protective channels or flexible adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat-shrink tubing is used to protect optical fibers in the distal end region, then mechanical protection is provided, but the non-round cross-section prevents application of heat-shrink tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the adhesive from flexible to rigid/inflexible. By using an inflexible adhesive instead of flexible materials or heat-shrink tubing, the optical fibers are firmly fixed in the distal end region, providing mechanical protection against damage while accommodating the non-round cross-section geometry that prevents heat-shrink tubing application.
2Reliability
If flexible adhesive is used to bond optical fibers, then protection during deformation is provided, but insufficient protection against friction and pressure in distal end region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical properties of the bonding material from flexible to rigid. The inflexible adhesive provides firm fixation of the optical fibers, protecting them against friction and pressure in the distal end region where flexible adhesives were insufficient, while still allowing the shaft to deform during procedures.
3Reliability
If separate protective channels or heat-shrink tubing are used, then mechanical protection is provided, but device complexity and diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function with the bonding function by using the inflexible adhesive to both bond the optical fibers in place and provide mechanical protection simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate protective channels or heat-shrink tubing, reducing device complexity and maintaining a compact diameter while still protecting the optical fibers from damage.
4Device complexity
If optical fibers are left exposed in distal end region, then device simplicity is maintained, but fibers are damaged from deformation, friction, or pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the bonding material from flexible to rigid/inflexible to provide adequate protection. The inflexible adhesive firmly secures the optical fibers in the distal end region, protecting them against damage from deformation, friction, and pressure during procedures, while maintaining relative device simplicity by using a single material for both bonding and protection.
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 solution ensures that a high percentage of optical fibers remain intact after regular use, maintaining light transmission and reducing the risk of damage, allowing for gentle and effective endoscopic interventions with minimal diameter and maximum flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
fibers of the optical fiber in the distal end region are bonded by means of an inflexible adhesive
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a medical endoscope with an elongated shaft section having a distal end region with a non-circular cross-section and a main shaft section arranged proximally thereto, wherein the shaft section is traversed in the longitudinal direction by at least one optical fiber having a plurality of individual fibers and the main shaft section is more flexible than the distal end region, characterized in that fibers of the optical fiber in the distal end region are bonded by means of an inflexible adhesive over a length of at least 50% of the distal end region.