Endoscope Variable View Angle Scattered Light Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Variable viewing endoscopes suffer from unwanted scattered light due to changes in the pivot position of the deflection element, degrading imaging quality and requiring time-consuming manual adjustment of the diaphragm position.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design where a sliding element with a shielding section synchronously adjusts the diaphragm position with the viewing direction, eliminating the need for manual tracking and ensuring effective suppression of scattered light without time delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed diaphragm is used in the imaging optics, then the structure is simple, but unwanted scattered light occurs at various pivot positions degrading imaging quality
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one that is coupled to the deflection element. As the deflection element pivots to change viewing direction, the diaphragm automatically moves to maintain proper alignment, preventing scattered light from entering the imaging optics while preserving structural simplicity through a single integrated mechanism
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separately operable panel is provided to track diaphragm position, then scattered light is suppressed, but time delays occur since manual tracking is required after setting viewing direction
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm control function is merged with the deflection element positioning mechanism. Both functions are achieved through a single actuating element that simultaneously controls the deflection element's pivot position and the diaphragm's position, eliminating the need for separate manual tracking operations and associated time delays
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the diaphragm position is manually tracked after setting viewing direction, then scattered light is suppressed, but operational efficiency decreases due to additional manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-alignment through the coupled mechanism. When the operator adjusts the viewing direction by moving the deflection element, the diaphragm automatically follows through the same actuating element, requiring no additional manual intervention to maintain proper alignment and suppress scattered light
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 7~11
AI summary
An endoscope is provided comprising a handle (2), an endoscope shaft (3) connected to the handle (2), an imaging optic (4) arranged in the endoscope shaft (3) which images an object located in front of the endoscope shaft (3) in the viewing direction (5) of the imaging optic (4) and which has a deflecting element (7) pivotably mounted for adjusting the viewing direction (5), which is arranged at the distal end of the endoscope shaft (3) facing away from the handle (2), and an actuating element (16) arranged on the handle (2) which is mechanically coupled to the deflecting element (7) and with which the pivoting position of the deflecting element (7) can be changed to adjust a desired viewing direction (5), wherein a sliding element (15), the proximal end of which is coupled to the actuating element (16) and the distal end of which has a shielding section (51), is slidably arranged in the endoscope shaft (3).wherein actuation of the actuating element (16) leads to a displacement of the sliding element (15) and wherein the distal end of the sliding element (15) is coupled to the deflecting element (7) in such a way that a displacement of the sliding element (15) causes a change in the pivot position of the deflecting element (7) and simultaneously a displacement of the shielding section (51) in order to achieve, at the same time as the setting of the desired viewing direction, scatter light shielding for the area (50) between the deflecting element (7) and an optical element (8) of the imaging optics (4) following the deflecting element,