Light Guide Fixing Unit with Defining Member for Endoscope
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing illumination optical system units for endoscopes face issues with undefined adhesive bonding ranges, leading to assembly failures and reduced strength due to adhesive overflow and catching on illumination holes, which affects the insertion and assembly of the endoscope components.
Innovation Solution
A fixing unit for light guide members that includes a defining member with a spatial region separating the protective and holding members, where an adhesive is applied to bond these components, defining the adhesive's bonding range in the longitudinal and radial directions, ensuring controlled adhesion and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the protective tube is made with room (larger inner diameter than necessary), then the second adhesive can be applied, but the adhesive runs over to the external surfaces causing undefined bonding range
Solution Approach 1:
A defining member (cylindrical structure with grooves) is introduced as an intermediary component between the protective tube and the adhesive. This defining member has grooves that precisely control and limit the adhesive's spread, preventing it from running over to external surfaces while still allowing proper adhesive application within the intended bonding area.
2Ease of manufacture
If the bonding range of the second adhesive is not defined, then the adhesive can cover the gap, but the adhesive gets caught on the illumination hole causing assembly failure
Solution Approach 1:
The defining member acts as a mediator that separates the gap-filling function from the potential harm of adhesive overflow. The grooves in the defining member contain the adhesive within the gap area, preventing it from reaching the illumination hole while still ensuring complete gap filling.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bonding range of the second adhesive is not defined, then the adhesive can be applied freely, but the strength of the illumination optical system unit is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The defining member provides a structured pathway for adhesive application, ensuring that the adhesive is distributed uniformly and completely within the bonding area. This controlled distribution maximizes the bonding strength by ensuring full contact between the protective tube and the ferrule, while still allowing manufacturing flexibility.
4Manufacturing precision
If the first adhesive is poured into circumferential grooves for sealing, then the sealing is controlled, but the amount of adhesive must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The defining member with its grooves serves as an intermediary that automatically controls adhesive distribution. The grooves act as channels that guide and limit adhesive flow, providing precise sealing control without requiring complex external control mechanisms for adhesive amount.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology is directed to a fixing unit of a light guide member. The fixing unit is attaching the light guide member to a protective member that protects outer circumference of the light guide member that guides primary light and a holding member. The fixing unit comprises a defining member forming a spatial region in which the protective member and the holding member are encapsulated separately from one another in a longitudinal axis direction of the fixing unit. An adhesive that is applied in the spatial region to bond at least part of the protective member and at least part of the holding member to the defining member. The defining member includes a specific region that defines a bonding range of the adhesive in the spatial region in at least one of a longitudinal axis direction and a radial direction of the defining member.