Endoscope Tapered Light Guide for Thin, Flexible Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes face challenges with thick tubular portions due to large optical fiber diameters, which hinder insertion into bodies or metal tubes and reduce flexibility and layout freedom, especially when incorporating illumination units and image sensors.
Innovation Solution
The use of a light guide with a refractive index higher than 1, featuring a larger incidence end surface and smaller exit end surface, integrated into a tubular portion, allows efficient light transmission while minimizing the tubular portion's thickness, enhancing flexibility and insertion capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the diameter of the optical fiber is increased to improve illumination efficiency, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the thickness of the tubular portion increases making insertion difficult and flexibility reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the light guide material to a value higher than 1, which allows for more efficient light transmission with smaller fiber diameter. This parameter change enables maintaining illumination efficiency while reducing the thickness of the tubular portion, thus resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and insertion ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from using conventional optical fibers to a light guide structure that utilizes refractive index differences in a different dimensional approach. By creating a light guide with a core having higher refractive index than the cladding, the system achieves efficient light transmission without requiring large fiber diameter, thereby maintaining flexibility and insertion capability.
2Illumination intensity
If the diameter of the optical fiber is increased to improve light transmission, then the illumination is improved, but the degree of freedom of layout is reduced due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the refractive index parameter of the light guide material, the patent achieves efficient light transmission with a smaller cross-sectional area. This allows for more flexible layout arrangements of other components such as image sensors and treatment tool channels within the tubular portion, thereby maintaining layout freedom while ensuring adequate illumination.
3Illumination intensity
If the thickness of the tubular portion is increased to accommodate larger optical fiber, then the light transmission is improved, but the flexibility and bendability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the refractive index of the light guide material to achieve efficient light transmission with a thinner tubular portion. This maintains the flexibility and bendability of the endoscope while ensuring adequate illumination, as the higher refractive index material allows for more effective light confinement and transmission in a smaller cross-section.
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 design achieves bright illumination with reduced tubular thickness, facilitating easy insertion into bodies or metal tubes and maintaining flexibility, while minimizing power consumption and heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide which is formed of a medium having a refractive index higher than 1
Data Source
AI summary
An optical apparatus having a holding portion and a tubular portion further includes a light source, a light guide which is formed of a medium having a refractive index higher than 1, and an optical converting portion. The light guide has a first light guiding area having an incidence end surface and a second light guiding area having an exit end surface. A diameter of the incidence end surface is larger than a diameter of the exit end surface, and at least a part of the second light guiding area is included in the tubular portion.