Medical Instrument LED Illumination with Patterned Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical diagnostic instruments using LEDs face challenges with non-uniform and less intense light emission, particularly in applications like otoscopy, due to the inherent characteristics of LEDs, which can result in inadequate illumination and spectral issues.
Innovation Solution
A medical diagnostic instrument with a housing containing a light guide made from a transmissive material, featuring a patterned surface at either end to distribute light from multiple LEDs into a coherent and uniform annular spot, allowing for improved illumination and spectral control, including the use of multiple LEDs of different colors to produce white light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple LEDs are used to provide sufficient illumination, then illumination intensity is improved, but light uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide is introduced as an intermediary component between the multiple LEDs and the target area. The light guide collects light from multiple LEDs and redistributes it uniformly through its length, transforming the non-uniform multi-source illumination into homogeneous light distribution across the examination field.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide is designed with varying cross-sectional dimensions along its length, creating different optical properties at different locations. This allows the light guide to effectively distribute light from multiple LEDs uniformly across the target area, addressing the non-uniformity issue while maintaining sufficient illumination intensity.
2Illumination intensity
If incandescent or halogen bulbs are used as light sources, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat generation and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal-based illumination (incandescent/halogen bulbs) with LED-based illumination. LEDs convert electrical energy directly to light through electroluminescence, eliminating the need for high-temperature filament operation. This substitution dramatically reduces heat generation and power consumption while maintaining adequate illumination intensity for medical examination.
3Temperature
If LEDs are used as light sources, then heat generation and power consumption are reduced, but illumination intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple LEDs are combined in the illumination system, with their light output collected and distributed through a light guide. By merging the output of multiple LED sources into a single unified light delivery path, the system achieves sufficient total illumination intensity while maintaining the low heat and power consumption advantages of individual LEDs.
4Area of stationary object
If multiple LEDs are disposed in a ring configuration, then illumination coverage is improved, but light coherence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as a mediating structure that receives light from multiple LEDs arranged in a ring or other configurations and transforms this multi-source light into a coherent, uniform output. The light guide's optical design ensures that light from different LED positions is integrated and distributed evenly, creating a coherent illumination pattern that covers the required area while maintaining light uniformity.
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
The solution provides a more uniform and consistent light source, enabling effective examination with reduced heat and power consumption, and ensuring functionality even if one LED fails, while minimizing stray light and achieving coherent, homogenous illumination over a range of working distances.
Implementation Method 1
A light guide made from a light transmissive material is distally disposed in relation to the LED supporting member for transmitting light emitted by the plurality of LEDs through the distal end of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The patterned surface is configured so as to uniformly distribute or merge the light emitted from the plurality of LEDs into a homogenous annular spot onto an intended target
Data Source
AI summary
A medical diagnostic instrument includes a housing having an interior, a distal end and an opposing proximal end. A supporting member is disposed within the interior of the housing, and supports a plurality of LEDs. A light guide made from a light transmissive material is distally disposed in relation to the LED supporting member for transmitting light emitted by the plurality of LEDs through the distal end of the housing. In at least one version, at least one end of the light guide can be provided with a patterned surface that is configured to produce a uniform illumination spot.