Endoscope Distal End Cover for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes suffer from uneven illumination light distribution, leading to brightness irregularities that can confuse medical practitioners during endoscopic examinations.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design includes a translucent tubular distal end cover and a tubular illumination frame with a predetermined gap between the inner surface of the cover and the light source, ensuring uniform illumination by diffusing light through an illumination recess and maintaining gaps between the illumination frame and cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-emitting element is disposed at the distal end to illuminate the observation field of view, then illumination function is achieved, but unevenness in light distribution occurs causing brightness irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the light-emitting element and the observation field. The light guide receives light from the light-emitting element and transmits it uniformly across the observation field, mediating the light distribution to eliminate unevenness while preserving illumination function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct point-source illumination to distributed linear or surface illumination by utilizing the light guide's extended structure. This dimensional transformation distributes light across a broader area, converting concentrated light emission into uniform distributed illumination
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 minimizes illumination light unevenness, providing clearer endoscopic images and reducing the burden on medical professionals.
Implementation Method 1
illumination light emitted from a light-emitting element disposed at a distal end illuminates an observation field of view
Implementation Method 2
a predetermined gap is provided between an inner surface of the distal end cover and surfaces of the illumination frame and the light source
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an endoscope in which unevenness of illumination light is not likely to occur.An endoscope includes: a translucent tubular distal end cover disposed at a distal end of an insertion portion; a tubular fixation frame in which the distal end cover is fixed on a distal end side thereof; and a tubular illumination frame fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the fixation frame and holding a light source at a distal end thereof, in which a predetermined gap is provided between an inner surface of the distal end cover and surfaces of the illumination frame and the light source. The endoscope further includes an observation window protruding from the distal end cover, in which the distal end cover includes an illumination lens unit that transmits illumination light emitted from the light source and illuminates a visual field direction of the observation window.