Nano-structured Endoscope Tip Housing Anti-glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope tip housings face challenges with slow manufacturing processes, precision issues during resin injection, and glare from stray light reflections due to refractive index changes, leading to reduced imaging quality and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A nano-structured transparent polymer material is used for the front wall of the endoscope tip housing, providing anti-reflection and hydrophobic properties to minimize glare and facilitate self-cleaning, while being integrated directly into the manufacturing process to avoid separate coating risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transparent monolithic housing is formed by injecting UV curable resin from the bottom of a mould, then sealing and protection of electronics are achieved, but the manufacturing process is slow and positioning precision of components is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The nano-structure is pre-formed on the mould surface before resin injection. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the transparent resin is injected, the anti-reflection and self-cleaning properties are automatically imparted to the housing surface, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing treatments and speeding up the overall process while maintaining precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning and adjustment systems with a nano-structured surface treatment. Instead of mechanically ensuring precise component positioning during resin injection, the nano-structure provides optical and surface properties that compensate for positioning variations, simplifying the manufacturing process
2Illumination intensity
If transparent resin is used for the housing, then visibility and light transmission are improved, but glare from stray light reflections occurs due to refractive index changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nano-structuring locally to the outer surface of the transparent housing while maintaining the bulk transparency of the material. This localized modification creates anti-reflection properties at the surface level without compromising the light transmission through the housing, allowing visibility while reducing glare
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the housing surface by introducing nano-scale structures. This alters the optical properties at the surface level, creating anti-reflection effects that reduce glare while maintaining the overall transparency and light transmission of the housing material
3Ease of manufacture
If components are positioned during resin injection, then housing formation is achieved, but precise positioning of camera and LEDs is difficult to maintain, leading to quality rejections
Solution Approach 1:
Mould inserts with precise positioning features are prepared in advance. These inserts guide the camera and LED components into correct positions before resin injection occurs, ensuring consistent positioning accuracy across all manufactured units without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during the injection process
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 nano-structured housing reduces glare reflections to less than 0.1%, enhances self-cleaning capabilities, and maintains efficient light transmission, improving image quality and reducing manufacturing complexities.
Implementation Method 1
said second surface comprises at least one area provided with a nano-structure formed directly in said second surface... providing anti-reflection and hydrophobic properties to minimize glare
Implementation Method 2
providing anti-reflection and hydrophobic properties to minimize glare and facilitate self-cleaning
Data Source
AI summary
A housing (1) for the tip of a disposable insertion endoscope includes a circumferential side wall (2) having a first end and a second end, and a front wall (3) arranged at the first end to provide an internal compartment (4) in the housing (1), the front wall (3) including at least one transparent part made of a polymer material and adapted to protect a camera (10) arranged in the housing behind the at least one transparent part and a front surface (15) having at least one area provided with a nano-structure.