Nailfold Finger Insert Structure for Stable Bubble-Free Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nailfold imaging devices face challenges with finger movement during imaging due to gaps between the finger and the device housing, leading to involuntary movement and poor imaging quality, and existing solutions either compromise on finger size compatibility or stability.
Innovation Solution
A finger insert with a deformable pad and optically transparent walls that accommodate different finger sizes, immersing the distal phalange in liquid and reducing trapped air to stabilize the finger during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the finger well is designed with a rigid housing to accommodate different finger sizes, then adaptability is improved, but finger stability deteriorates due to gaps allowing movement
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible finger insert is introduced within the rigid finger well housing. This flexible insert conforms to the finger shape and provides stable contact without requiring the entire housing to be flexible, thus maintaining adaptability while improving stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid housing provides overall structural support and size accommodation, while a specific local region (the finger insert) is made flexible to adapt to different finger shapes and provide stable contact. This localized flexibility resolves the contradiction between rigid housing stability and finger adaptability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the finger well is under-sized to reduce finger movement, then finger stability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to limited finger size range
Solution Approach 1:
The finger insert is designed to be deformable and adaptable to different finger sizes dynamically. Rather than a fixed under-sized well, the insert conforms to each finger's dimensions, providing stability across a wide range of finger sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the finger insert (shape, size, flexibility) are optimized to accommodate varying finger dimensions while maintaining stable contact. The insert can deform to match different finger girths and lengths, resolving the stability-adaptability trade-off.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid housing is used to provide structural support, then manufacturing precision is improved, but imaging quality deteriorates due to air gaps and trapped air
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible finger insert eliminates air gaps between the housing and finger, ensuring complete liquid contact for optimal imaging. The rigid housing maintains manufacturing precision, while the flexible insert bridges the gap to improve optical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible finger insert acts as an intermediary between the rigid housing and the finger, eliminating air gaps and ensuring complete liquid contact. This mediator improves optical contact and imaging quality without compromising the structural accuracy of the rigid housing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the finger well is designed to be spacious to accommodate all finger sizes, then adaptability is improved, but finger stability deteriorates due to excessive movement space
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible finger insert is placed within the spacious finger well to provide stable contact with the finger. The insert adapts to the finger's shape and size, preventing excessive movement while allowing the housing to remain spacious for accommodating different finger dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The finger well is segmented into an outer rigid housing that provides spacious accommodation and an inner flexible insert that provides stable contact. This segmentation allows the housing to be large and adaptable while the insert ensures finger stability.
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 finger insert stabilizes the finger, reducing involuntary movement and improving imaging quality by ensuring consistent positioning of the nailfold within the imaging field of view, facilitating accurate white blood cell count measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable pad positioned on at least a portion of the first wall, to form an open-pore structure that fills a gap between the first wall and the finger of the user when the finger is inserted into the finger insert, and to reduce trapped air in the liquid
Implementation Method 2
The housing includes a first wall and a second wall, with the second wall being optically transparent to facilitate imaging of the nailfold of the finger
Implementation Method 3
The housing holds a liquid to facilitate imaging of a nailfold of the finger of the subject, such that at least the distal phalange of the finger is immersed in the liquid when the liquid is present in the finger insert
Data Source
AI summary
A finger insert for use with a nailfold imaging device includes a housing to receive the user's finger and an immersion substance (e.g., immersion oil), and a deformable pad that holds the user's finger in place during imaging, as well as prevent bubble formation in the substance. The housing includes a transparent wall to facilitate imaging of the finger. The transparent wall includes multiple angled portions that prevent or reduce contact between the nailfold and the wall, to ensure sufficient blood flow through the nailfold region for imaging.