Peripheral Light-Emitting Linear Guide With Graded Scattering Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing peripheral light-emitting linear light guide members require significant manhours and time to form the light-scattering member, making it difficult to achieve low-cost performance for disposable optical fiber catheters used in catheter treatments.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral light-emitting linear light guide member with a light-scattering resin film comprising a first, second, and third region, each with increasing film thickness towards the tip end, and a method involving controlled pull-up speeds to form these regions, using a dipcoat film-forming process with light-scattering particles dispersed in a solvent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the light-scattering member is formed by sequentially adhering and curing solutions with different ratios of light-scattering particles, then uniformity of light intensity in axial direction is enhanced, but manufacturing time and manhours increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The light-scattering member is divided into multiple layers, each with different ratios of light-scattering particles to base material. These layers are formed by sequentially adhering solutions to the core and curing each layer, creating a structured multi-layer configuration that achieves uniform light intensity distribution while managing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ratio of light-scattering particles to base material is varied across different layers of the light-scattering member. By changing this compositional parameter from one layer to the next, the invention achieves uniform light intensity distribution along the axial direction, optimizing optical performance
2Reliability
If multiple solutions with different ratios of light-scattering particles are prepared and sequentially adhered, then light scattering performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light-scattering member is segmented into multiple layers with progressively varying concentrations of light-scattering particles. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute differently to the overall light scattering effect, achieving superior optical performance through a structured approach
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions (layers) of the light-scattering member have different local compositions with varying ratios of light-scattering particles to base material. This local quality variation optimizes light scattering at different depths, improving overall light scattering performance while maintaining a systematic manufacturing approach
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 solution enables the production of a light guide member with high uniformity of light intensity at a lower cost, ensuring efficient and uniform light distribution for catheter treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a light-scattering member made of a light-transmittable base material with a refractive index higher than that of the core and light-scattering particles dispersion-mixed with the base material
Implementation Method 2
a light-transmittable base material with a refractive index higher than that of the core
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral light-emitting linear light guide member having low manufacturing cost and high uniformity of light intensity is achieved. A peripheral light-emitting optical fiber 3 according to one embodiment includes: an optical fiber 4 including a core 41 exposed from a cladding 42 at one end portion 44; and a light-scattering resin film 5 including a light-transmittable base material 50 and light-scattering particles 51 dispersed in the base material 50, and the light-scattering resin film 5 includes a first region 61, a second region 62, and a third region 63 covering an outer periphery surface of the end portion 44 of the core 41. A minimum film thickness of the second region 62 is equal to or larger than a maximum film thickness of the first region 61, a minimum film thickness of the third region 63 is equal to larger than a maximum film thickness of the second region 62. Each film thickness of the first region 61 and the second region 62 gradually increases in a direction toward the tip end side of the end portion 44, and reaches the maximum film thickness of each region, and a film thickness of the third region 63 gradually increases in the direction toward the tip end side of the end portion 44, and reaches a maximum film thickness of the third region 63, and then, gradually decreases to a predetermined film thickness.