Multi-viewing Element Endoscope Tip Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopes, such as colonoscopes, have limited fields of view and restricted access for surgical tools, and face challenges in efficiently packing necessary components within the tip section while maintaining functionality.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multi-viewing element endoscope with a distal tip featuring at least three image capturing components, a handle with an actuator for video processing commands, and a controller that processes and displays image feeds on multiple monitors, allowing for features like zoom, recording, freezing, and navigation indicators, along with a modular design for the tip section to enhance functionality and packing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single camera is used in the endoscope tip, then the device complexity is low, but the field of view is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope tip is divided into multiple viewing elements (first viewing element, second viewing element, third viewing element) with different fields of view. Each viewing element captures images from a specific direction, and the images are combined to provide a comprehensive view of the body cavity, thereby expanding the overall field of view while maintaining manageable complexity through modular segmentation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are packed in the tip section, then the functionality is enhanced, but the packing efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope design nests multiple service channels (first service channel, second service channel, third service channel) and viewing elements within the tip section in a compact, space-efficient arrangement. The channels and components are integrated concentrically and radially to maximize functionality while minimizing the overall tip diameter, achieving efficient packing of illumination, fluid injection, and imaging components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple service channels are added, then the surgical tool access is extended, but the tip section packing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope design incorporates service channels and viewing elements in multiple spatial dimensions - radial channels extending from the center, lateral channels positioned at different angles, and longitudinal channels running along the tip axis. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows extended surgical tool access through multiple pathways while maintaining compact tip packaging by utilizing three-dimensional space efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
The present specification describes an endoscopy display system including an endoscope with a distal tip having at least three image capturing components, and a handle with an actuator that, when activated, generates a video processing command; a controller including a video processing system adapted to transmit commands to the three image capturing components and receive an image feed from each of said three image capturing components; and a display system, including at least one monitor that concurrently receives and concurrently visually displays each of said processed image feeds, where the video processing system is adapted to process each of said image feeds in accordance with the video processing command to cause at least one of changing a position of, zooming into or out of; recording; freezing; highlighting; or superimposing a navigation indicator upon the at least one of the processed image feeds.