Endoscope Illumination via Segmented Fiber Subbundles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes and microscopes face challenges in efficiently and selectively illuminating individual areas with minimal heat generation and complex mechanical structures, particularly in endoscopes with small tube diameters, which limits their application and increases thermal stress.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design featuring a coherent light fiber bundle at the proximal end and separate sub-bundles at the distal end, with an array of individually controllable light sources, where an assignment function controls the activation of specific light sources to direct light into desired sub-bundles, minimizing heat and allowing selective illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a remote light source is used to illuminate the field of view, then heat generation at the distal end is reduced, but the light source and cooling system become mechanically complex
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber bundle is segmented into multiple subbundles, each associated with specific light sources. This segmentation allows selective activation of light sources corresponding to actively viewed areas, reducing overall heat generation while maintaining illumination where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light source array have different activation states based on the currently viewed area. Only light sources corresponding to the active subbundle are activated, creating local quality differences in terms of light emission and heat generation across the light source array.
2Illumination intensity
If the entire possible viewing area is illuminated broadly, then all areas are adequately lit, but heat stress in the light source area increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating all light sources to illuminate the entire viewing area, only the necessary subset of light sources corresponding to the currently active subbundle is activated. This partial action provides sufficient illumination for the viewed area while avoiding excessive heat generation from unnecessary light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the activation state of light sources based on the currently viewed area. When the viewing direction changes, different subsets of light sources are activated, changing the operational parameters of the light source array to match the illumination needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pivoting light guide is used to change illumination direction, then selective illumination is achieved, but the distal end volume increases and integration in small tube diameters is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical pivoting light guide system is replaced with an optical control system using multiple subbundles and selectively activatable light sources. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical movement in the distal end, reducing volume and enabling integration in small tube diameters while maintaining selective illumination capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of achieving selective illumination through mechanical movement in one dimension (pivoting), the system uses optical dimensionality by spatially separating light sources and subbundles. The assignment function maps light sources to subbundles, enabling selective illumination through optical routing rather than mechanical repositioning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate light sources with individual optical fiber bundles are used, then selective illumination is possible, but the device design becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate optical fiber bundles are merged into a single integrated fiber optic bundle containing multiple subbundles. The light source array is similarly integrated, with each light source coupled to specific fibers within the unified bundle structure. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining the capability for selective illumination through the assignment function.
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 enables efficient, selective illumination with reduced heat generation and increased service life of light sources, allowing for precise control of light emission and improved heat management in compact endoscope designs.
Implementation Method 1
a fiber optic bundle (11) for transmitting light from the proximal end (14) to the distal end (15)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an endoscope 10, exoscope, or microscope, comprising an optical fiber bundle 11 for transmitting light from the proximal end 14 to the distal end 15, which at the proximal end 14 forms a continuous bundle 12 and at the distal end 15 forms several sub-bundles 13 or individual fibers. It further comprises a light source 20 for coupling light into the proximal end 14 of the optical fiber bundle 11, with a plurality of array-like, individually controllable light sources 21, and a control unit 30 for controlling the individual light sources 21 using an assignment function 30, which represents the assignment of a proximal fiber end 14 to a sub-bundle 13. The proximal ends 14 of the fibers 16, which are assigned to a subbundle 13, are arranged on a surface such that proximal ends 14 of fibers 16, which are assigned to another subbundle 13, are arranged between them.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for determining an assignment function 30 and a method for illuminating an operating area of an endoscope 10, exoscope or microscope using an assignment function 30. This invention provides, among other things, efficient energy and heat management of the light source 20 and an endoscope 10, exoscope or microscope with reliable illumination of the operating area.