Pannable Camera Endoscope for Variable Field of View
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic instruments face limitations in providing a variable field of view and durability, especially in confined spaces, leading to increased surgery time and risk of iatrogenic injury, and require costly sterilization and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A variable view endoscope design featuring a rotatable imaging device with a pivotable camera assembly and elongate pivot actuator, allowing for a field of view adjustment between 90 degrees to 180 degrees, and a disposable design to eliminate sterilization costs and maintain reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an actively flexible distal segment is used to increase field of view, then the field of view is improved, but the instrument cannot be used in confined spaces and durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the camera assembly pivotable relative to the insertion shaft, allowing the field of view to be dynamically adjusted from 90 to 180 degrees. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the rigid endoscope to achieve variable field of view without requiring an actively flexible distal segment, thus maintaining durability while improving adaptability.
2Reliability
If a rigid insertion shaft is used to improve optics and durability, then reliability is improved, but the field of view is limited and repositioning is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by incorporating a pivotable camera assembly that can be rotated between 90 and 180 degrees relative to the rigid insertion shaft. This allows the rigid shaft to maintain its optical and durability advantages while the camera assembly provides dynamic field of view adjustment, eliminating the need for frequent repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by enabling the camera assembly to rotate through a range of motion from 90 to 180 degrees. This parameter change in the camera orientation allows the field of view to be varied without changing the rigid insertion shaft configuration, maintaining durability while improving adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If instruments are reused to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but sterilization costs and reliability degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by designing an endoscope with a disposable insertion shaft and camera assembly that can be sterilized and reused. The rigid construction and sealed design enable reliable sterilization without degradation, eliminating the need for frequent replacement and reducing both manufacturing and sterilization costs over time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the camera assembly is made pivotable to increase field of view adjustment, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics with a simple pivotable camera assembly that rotates relative to the insertion shaft. This dynamic mechanism provides field of view adjustment from 90 to 180 degrees while maintaining relatively simple construction, avoiding excessive complexity by using a straightforward rotational joint rather than complex mechanical systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope has a pannable camera at the distal end of its insertion shaft, the pannable camera assembly being pivotable to provide a range of a field of view that can be equal to or greater than 180 degrees. A terminal light emitting element may be mounted to the camera assembly in order to illuminate the immediate field of view of the camera sensor regardless of the rotational position of the camera assembly. A fluid-carrying conduit of the insertion section may also be used to house functional components, including the camera assembly, actuation cables, a communications cable connected to the camera sensor, and/or a fiberoptic cable providing light to the light emitting element. A distal section of the endoscope handle may be rotatable relative to a proximal hand-held section of the endoscope handle, a rotary encoder being provided to convert the rotational position of the insertion shaft relative to the handle into a signal for the purpose of image orientation correction by an electronic processor.