Pivotable Endoscope Illumination via Segmented Reflective Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with fixed viewing directions are disadvantageous in many applications, requiring frequent changes and struggling to illuminate all possible fields of view effectively, especially with smaller shaft diameters where optical waveguide breakage and reduced light-conducting properties become common.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope with a pivotable viewing direction featuring a plurality of reflective surfaces arranged in the illumination beam path to fan out illumination light, allowing for adjustable illumination of all possible fields of view, which can be miniaturized with relative ease and maintains mechanical robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple light-emitting surfaces are provided to illuminate all possible fields of view, then illumination coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple discrete light-emitting surfaces arranged in the illumination beam path. Each light-emitting surface illuminates a specific portion of the field of view, and collectively they cover the entire angular range. This segmentation allows systematic illumination distribution while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges multiple light-emitting surfaces not just in series but in a spatial configuration within the illumination beam path, utilizing dimensional arrangement to achieve comprehensive illumination coverage. This spatial distribution in another dimension enables all fields of view to be illuminated without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If shaft diameter is decreased to improve patient comfort and accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to optical fiber breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic small-radius bends from the optical fiber path by providing multiple light-emitting surfaces that are positioned to illuminate different fields of view. This eliminates the need for the optical fiber to follow tight curvature paths, thereby maintaining reliability even in thin-shaft endoscopes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single optical fiber that must bend sharply, the patent uses multiple light-emitting surfaces that act as separate illumination sources. This copying approach distributes the illumination function across multiple points, eliminating the need for sharp bends in any single optical path and thus preventing fiber breakage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple prisms are arranged to direct illumination in adjustable viewing directions, then adaptability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to miniaturization difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex, difficult-to-miniaturize prism arrangements with simpler light-emitting surfaces that can be more easily manufactured and integrated into thin endoscope shafts. These simpler illumination elements achieve the same adaptability function without the manufacturing complexity of multiple precision prisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical prism-based illumination direction control with a different approach using multiple light-emitting surfaces arranged in the illumination beam path. This substitution maintains the ability to illuminate all viewing directions while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and enabling miniaturization.
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
Enables effective illumination of all possible fields of view with adjustable viewing directions, reducing the need for frequent endoscope changes and minimizing optical waveguide breakage, while maintaining mechanical robustness and sterilization resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of reflective surfaces for reflecting illumination light, wherein the reflective surfaces are arranged at least partially next to each other in the illumination beam path
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An endoscope (10), with a viewing direction (21, 22) that is pivotable relative to the endoscope (10), comprises an illumination beam path (70), for transmitting illumination light, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56), for reflecting illumination light, wherein the reflecting surfaces (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56), in relation to the intended light propagation direction (71, 72, 73) of illumination light in the illumination beam path (70), are arranged at least partly alongside one another in the illumination beam path (70).