Light Guide Pipe Air Gap Uniform Endoscopic Illumination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video laryngoscopes face issues with non-uniform illumination of the airway during intubation procedures due to light loss at the air/light guide boundaries and uncontrolled light transmission, leading to bright spots, glare, and under-illumination in the captured images.

Innovation Solution

A light guide with a solid transparent material surrounded by an air gap, promoting total internal reflection, and modified entry and exit surfaces to efficiently direct light to the airway, reducing scattered light and improving image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If light is transmitted through a conventional light guide surrounded by material boundaries, then light can be delivered to the airway, but light loss occurs at the air/light guide boundaries causing non-uniform illumination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of illuminationVSAvoidlight loss at boundaries

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the surrounding material boundaries that cause light loss and replaces them with an air gap. The light guide is extracted from its conventional housing and positioned in a cavity that allows air to surround it, eliminating the material interfaces that cause reflection and light loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the refractive index parameter at the light guide boundaries by surrounding the light guide with air (refractive index ≈1.0) instead of material with higher refractive index. This parameter change eliminates total internal reflection losses and improves light transmission uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If light is transmitted through a conventional light guide, then illumination is provided, but uncontrolled light transmission causes bright spots and glare

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrolled light transmissionVSAvoidbright spots and glare

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different surface characteristics to different parts of the light guide. The lateral surfaces are designed with specific properties to control light emission, while the distal end has a different configuration. This local differentiation allows controlled light transmission and eliminates unwanted bright spots and glare.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of uncontrolled light transmission into a benefit by using the air gap to enable precise control of light emission. The air interface allows for optimized light extraction at the distal end while preventing lateral light leakage that causes glare.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Strength

If a light guide is surrounded by material housing, then structural support is provided, but light loss and scattering occur at the interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidlight scattering at interfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium between the light guide and the external environment. This air gap acts as a mediator that provides optical isolation, preventing light scattering at material interfaces while the frame structure provides the necessary mechanical support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the light guide structure from its housing by creating a separate cavity. The light guide is positioned independently within a frame structure, allowing optical and mechanical functions to be separated. This segmentation eliminates interface losses while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the uniformity and intensity of illumination, reducing glare and under-illumination, and improving the quality of the airway image captured by the camera.

Implementation Method 1

A light guide with a solid transparent material surrounded by an air gap, promoting total internal reflection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Implementation Method 2

modified entry and exit surfaces to efficiently direct light to the airway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20240358250A1Light guide pipe for uniform endoscopic illumination

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

The technology relates to video laryngoscopes with improved illumination. An example laryngoscope includes a display; a handle; an arm extending distally from the handle; a camera positioned at a distal end of the arm; a light source positioned at the distal end of the arm; and a unibody plug positioned at the distal end of the arm, the unibody plug. The unibody plug includes a light guide formed of a solid transparent material having an entry surface at a proximal end of the light guide and an exit surface at a distal end of the light guide, wherein the entry surface is adjacent the light source; and a frame that defines an air gap around at least 70% of a length of the light guide.