LED Laryngeal Stroboscope Thermal Management and Light Redirecting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laryngeal stroboscopes face limitations in generating sufficient stroboscopic light for clear imaging of phonating larynxes, often resulting in image blurring and reduced light efficiency, which affects the quality of slow-motion video capture.
Innovation Solution
The proposed stroboscopic endoscope system increases light output by using LEDs intermittently energized with a heat sink pre-cooled to higher power levels, combined with light redirecting assemblies like hemispherical reflectors and total internal reflectors, to generate multiple light flashes synchronized with vocal cord displacement cycles, thereby enhancing illumination without detrimental effects on LED operational life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are energized at higher power levels to increase light output, then illumination intensity is improved, but LED operational life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by intermittently energizing LEDs to generate light flashes rather than continuous operation. The controller energizes LEDs to generate a sequence of light flashes during video frames, with multiple flashes per frame when vocal cords complete at least two complete displacement cycles. This pulsed operation pattern allows LEDs to operate at high power levels during brief intervals while having cooling periods, thereby increasing illumination intensity during operation while maintaining LED operational life through reduced thermal stress accumulation.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light flashes are generated during a video frame to increase total light output, then illumination intensity is improved, but image blurring occurs due to extended illumination duration
Solution Approach 1:
The controller generates multiple light flashes during a video frame at specific intervals synchronized with vocal cord displacement cycles. Each flash has a controlled duration that is short enough to freeze motion and avoid blurring, while the sequence of multiple flashes accumulates sufficient total light output for clear imaging. This periodic flashing pattern resolves the contradiction by distributing illumination across multiple brief intervals rather than using a single extended illumination period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from vocal cord displacement cycle detection to control the timing and number of light flashes. The controller monitors the phonation frequency and adjusts the light flash sequence to synchronize with the vocal cord cycles, ensuring that flashes occur at optimal moments to capture clear images while maintaining appropriate flash duration to prevent blurring. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of illumination parameters based on real-time vocal cord motion.
3Loss of energy
If light redirecting assemblies are used to increase emitted light, then light efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hemispherical reflectors as light redirecting assemblies to increase the amount of light generated by LEDs that is emitted by the endoscope. The hemispherical geometry provides optimal light reflection and redirection properties, directing light efficiently toward the target area. This curved surface design maximizes light collection and redirection efficiency while maintaining a compact form factor, thereby improving light efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 approach significantly increases the amount of light emitted during video frames, reducing image blurring and maintaining LED longevity, resulting in higher quality, clinically usable slow-motion videos of the larynx.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more LEDs are thermally coupled with a heat sink that is precooled prior to being intermittently energized
Implementation Method 2
the light redirecting assembly comprises one or more hemispherical reflectors configured to increase the amount of light that is generated by the one or more LEDs that is emitted by the endoscope
Implementation Method 3
the light redirecting assembly comprises one or more total internal reflectors configured to increase the amount of light that is generated by the one or more LEDs that is emitted by the endoscope
Implementation Method 4
one or more LEDs that are intermittently energized to generate a sequence of light flashes emitted by the endoscope to illuminate an object
Data Source
AI summary
Stroboscopic endoscopic systems and related methods employ intermittent energization of one or more light sources to generate a sequence of light flashes. A stroboscopic endoscope system includes an endoscope, an imaging device, a light source, a light transmission assembly, and a controller. The imaging device is configured for imaging an object illuminated via the endoscope. The light transmission assembly is configured to transmit light generated by the light source to the endoscope. The stroboscopic endoscopic systems and related methods employ approaches for increasing the amount of illumination light emitted by the endoscope.