Surgical Microscope Drape With Pivoting Lens Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing microscope drapes require separate operations for attaching the lens cap and adjusting the protective lens, making the attachment process complicated for surgical microscopes.
Innovation Solution
A microscope drape design featuring a lens cap with an arc-shaped cross section that can pivotably support a protective lens holder, allowing for easy attachment and detachment, and adjustable tilt to facilitate simpler and more efficient covering of the surgical microscope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate operation is performed for attaching the lens cap and adjusting the protective lens angle, then the protective lens can prevent reflection and glare, but the attachment operation becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective lens adjustment function with the lens cap attachment operation. The lens cap is designed with an integrated mechanism that automatically adjusts the protective lens angle to an optimal position (e.g., 30-60 degrees relative to the optical axis) when the lens cap is attached to the objective lens housing. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate adjustment operations while maintaining glare prevention capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cap incorporates a self-adjusting mechanism for the protective lens. When the lens cap is attached to the housing, the protective lens angle is automatically adjusted to the appropriate position without requiring user intervention. The mechanism may include elastic deformation of the lens cap body or a spring-loaded adjustment system that naturally positions the protective lens at the optimal angle for preventing reflection and glare
2Ease of operation
If the lens cap is made with elastic expansion capability for easy insertion, then the attachment operation is facilitated, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cap utilizes elastic deformation to change its diameter parameter dynamically. The lens cap body is made from elastic material that allows temporary expansion of its outer diameter to match the housing opening for easy insertion, then automatically contracts to its original smaller diameter to secure the attachment. This parameter change approach simplifies the insertion operation while avoiding complex mechanical expansion mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cap is constructed using flexible elastic material that can temporarily deform to fit over the housing opening and then return to its original shape. This flexible shell approach enables easy attachment through elastic expansion and contraction, eliminating the need for complex fastening mechanisms or multiple components while maintaining a simple single-piece structure
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 design simplifies the attachment process by allowing the lens cap to be elastically expanded for easy insertion and fixed with a reduced diameter, while the protective lens can be tilted to prevent glare, enhancing operational efficiency and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the protective lens holder enters an inside of the lens cap so as to elastically expand a diameter of the lens cap
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a microscope drape capable of further facilitating an attachment operation thereof to a surgical microscope. A microscope drape comprises: a lens cap attached to and detached from a housing of an objective lens of a surgical microscope; a protective lens protecting the objective lens; and a drape main body covering the surgical microscope. The lens cap is formed such that a portion in a circumferential direction of a cylinder is opened, and has an arc-shaped cross section perpendicular to an optical axis of the objective lens. The microscope drape includes: a protective lens holder that is a cylinder whose outside diameter is larger in size than an inside diameter of the lens cap in a natural state and holds the protective lens; and a joint that pivotably supports the protective lens holder with respect to the lens cap around a pivot axis perpendicular to the optical axis.