Endoscope Tracker Quick-Connect for Precise Motion Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope devices suffer from inaccuracies in motion capture due to play in adapters, requiring continuous recalibration and lacking precise positioning and orientation of tracker modules, which affects user-friendliness and patient safety.

Innovation Solution

An endoscope device with a quick-connect interface that defines the position and orientation of a tracker module relative to the endoscope camera, storing factory-determined parameters on a storage medium, and incorporating a control unit for simplified calibration and component verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple adapter is used to mount the tracker module, then assembly is easy, but positioning precision and orientation accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter is divided into separate functional elements: a connection element for easy attachment and a positioning element with factory-determined parameters for precise positioning. This segmentation allows each element to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning parameters are determined and stored at the factory before use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for user calibration while ensuring consistent, accurate positioning every time the adapter is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If manual calibration is performed before each use, then positioning accuracy is maintained, but operation time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The calibration process is performed once at the factory, and the results are stored in the adapter. This eliminates the need for repeated manual calibration before each use, saving time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter contains its own calibration data and automatically provides correct positioning without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by using the pre-stored parameters to maintain accuracy throughout its operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the adapter allows detachable connection, then hygiene and reusability are improved, but connection stability and positioning consistency may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautoclaving capabilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into separate connector components that can be detached and sterilized independently. This allows the adapter to maintain reliability through secure connection while enabling hygiene requirements for multi-use devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning parameters are pre-determined and locked into the adapter structure. This ensures that every time the detachable connector is assembled, the same precise positioning is automatically achieved without requiring realignment or recalibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3656334B1Endoscopic device and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG
  • EP3656334B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3656334B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3656334B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and an endoscope device are proposed comprising at least one endoscope base (10) which includes at least one shaft (12) and at least one handle (14) connected to the shaft (12), at least one endoscope camera (16) which is at least partially integrated into the endoscope base (10), and at least one quick-connect interface (18) which is designed to form a detachable connection between at least one tracker module (20) and the endoscope base (10) and which defines at least one position and/or orientation of the tracker module (20) relative to the endoscope camera (16), wherein at least one factory-determined position and/or orientation parameter of this defined position and/or orientation is stored on at least one associated storage medium (22) in a retrievable manner.