Optical Fiber Tip Position Measurement Using Engaging Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing living body optical measurement apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring the tip position of optical fibers without detaching them from the probe holder, leading to inaccurate positioning and increased operation time due to the need for manual estimation and reattachment.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus includes a light irradiation and measurement unit with plural optical fibers, optical fiber plugs, and a holder that detachably fixes the plugs, along with a mobile position sensor and an engaging member that allows for precise measurement of the tip position without detaching the optical fiber from the holder, enabling contact with the object while maintaining accurate positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the optical fiber is detached from the probe holder to measure the tip position, then the tip position can be measured, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates because the operator must presume the original tip position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetip position measurement accuracyVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an engaging member as an intermediary device that attaches to the optical fiber plug and extends to a measurable position. This mediator allows the position sensor to measure the tip position without detaching the optical fiber from the probe holder, thus maintaining both measurement accuracy and operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging member is prepared in advance with a known geometric relationship to the optical fiber plug. By pre-establishing this relationship, the system can calculate the exact tip position based on the measured position of the engaging member, eliminating the need for operators to presume positions during measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the optical fiber is detached from the probe holder for measurement, then the tip position can be accessed, but the operation time increases due to manual reattachment and estimation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetip position measurement accuracyVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging member serves as a permanent intermediary that remains attached to the optical fiber plug throughout the measurement process. This eliminates the need for repeated detachment and reattachment operations, significantly reducing operation time while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging member is pre-configured with a fixed geometric relationship to the optical fiber plug, allowing direct calculation of tip position from the measured position. This preliminary setup eliminates time-consuming manual estimation and reattachment procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the optical fiber remains attached to the probe holder during measurement, then operation time is reduced, but measurement accuracy deteriorates because the tip position cannot be directly accessed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement efficiencyVSAvoidtip position measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging member acts as a mediator that extends the measurable feature from the optical fiber tip to a more accessible location while maintaining a known geometric relationship. This allows the optical fiber to remain attached to the probe holder for efficiency while achieving accurate tip position measurement through the intermediary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The engaging member extends the measurement from the optical fiber tip dimension to a longer lever arm dimension, making the position measurable while maintaining the attachment to the probe holder. This dimensional extension preserves both efficiency and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9883825B2Living body optical measurement apparatus, living body optical measurement method, and engagement member for mobile position sensor

Publication Date: 2018.02.06 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A living body optical measurement apparatus of the present invention includes: a light irradiation/measurement unit for irradiating light to an object and measuring the light passed through the object, a signal processing unit for processing measurement data of the light irradiation/measurement unit and creating a living body optical measurement image, and a position measurement unit for measuring positions where light is irradiated to an object and where the passing light is extracted from the object, the light irradiation/measurement unit includes plural optical fibers. The light irradiation/measurement unit includes plural optical fibers, plural optical fiber plugs attached to the plural optical fibers respectively, and a holder fixed detachably at a measurement site of an object and holds the plural optical fiber plugs. The position measurement unit includes a mobile position sensor and an engaging member having a shape detachably engaged with the plural optical fiber plugs attached to the mobile position sensor and held in the holder.