Integrated Endoscope Module Layout for Coplanar Light Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, particularly endoscopes, face challenges in achieving small dimensions with high precision and structural strength while ensuring that the light-transmitting and light-emitting surfaces are accurately aligned to avoid shadows and facilitate clear imaging.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope module with a non-metallic main body featuring an integrally-formed structure, including extending portions and an image-obtaining device, where the light-transmitting surface and light-emitting surfaces are coplanar, made using laser direct structuring or injection molding, ensuring accurate dimensions and enhanced structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the endoscope module uses a non-metallic main body with an integrally-formed structure, then the structural strength is enhanced and manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The body and extending portions are formed as an integrally-formed structure through injection molding, merging multiple components into a single piece. This eliminates the need for separate parts and assembly processes, thereby enhancing structural strength while the integrated design actually simplifies the overall device complexity by reducing the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-metallic main body serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, defines the spatial arrangement of extending portions, and enables precise positioning of optical components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional supporting structures, thereby enhancing strength without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the extending portions are designed with accurate dimensions through laser direct structuring or injection molding, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs injection molding with precisely controlled parameters to achieve accurate dimensions of extending portions. By optimizing molding parameters such as temperature, pressure, and cooling time, the process achieves high dimensional accuracy while maintaining ease of manufacture through a single-step production process, eliminating the need for post-processing or assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If the light-transmitting surface and light-emitting surfaces are made coplanar, then the imaging quality is improved by avoiding shadows, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The body and extending portions are formed as an integrally-formed structure through injection molding, merging multiple components into a single piece. This eliminates the need for separate parts and assembly processes, thereby enhancing structural strength while the integrated design actually simplifies the overall device complexity by reducing the number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coplanar arrangement of light-transmitting and light-emitting surfaces is built into the mold design during injection molding. This preliminary action ensures that the surfaces are automatically aligned to the required precision during the manufacturing process itself, eliminating the need for complex post-manufacturing alignment procedures and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope module includes a non-metallic main body, a plurality of lighting devices and an image-obtaining device. The non-metallic main body includes a body and a plurality of extending portions. The body has a first surface. The extending portions are respectively connected with the first surface. The extending portions define a space therebetween. The lighting devices are respectively disposed on a side of a corresponding one of the extending portions away from the first surface. Each of the lighting devices has a light-emitting surface located on a side of a corresponding one of the lighting devices away from the first surface. The image-obtaining device is at least partially located in the space and connected with the first surface. The image-obtaining device has a light-transmitting surface located on a side of the image-obtaining device away from the first surface.