Rigid Medical Imaging Device With Maneuverable Camera Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscope technologies often require multiple procedures to capture different angles or viewpoints of tissues, leading to increased invasiveness and inefficiency, as they typically involve a single camera with limited adjustability and require multiple insertions for varied views.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging device with multiple camera units housed in a rigid structure, featuring a maneuver mechanism that allows for adjustable camera orientations and overlapping fields of view, enabling capture of diverse angles and viewpoints from a single insertion point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single camera is used in traditional endoscopes, then the device structure remains simple, but multiple insertions are required to capture different viewpoints of tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is segmented into multiple independent camera units (first camera unit, second camera unit, third camera unit) positioned at different locations within the device. Each camera unit captures images from different directions, allowing multiple viewpoints to be obtained simultaneously during a single procedure, thereby eliminating the need for repeated insertions while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The endoscope device is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple camera units that can capture images from various directions (front, lateral, and other directions) simultaneously. This universal design allows a single device to perform multiple imaging functions that previously required multiple separate procedures or device insertions
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple camera units are added to capture different viewpoints, then the ability to obtain diverse angles is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent camera units positioned at different locations (first camera unit at first location, second camera unit at second location, third camera unit at third location). Each unit independently captures images from its specific direction, providing comprehensive viewpoint coverage while maintaining modular simplicity that prevents excessive device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-viewpoint (one-dimensional) camera system to a multi-viewpoint (three-dimensional) system by positioning camera units at different spatial locations and orientations. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous capture of front views, lateral views, and other directional views, significantly improving viewpoint coverage without proportionally increasing device complexity through efficient spatial arrangement
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid housing is used to house multiple camera units, then structural stability is improved, but the maneuverability of camera units is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates maneuver mechanisms that enable the camera units to dynamically change their imaging directions within the stable rigid housing structure. The first camera unit can be maneuvered to change its imaging direction, allowing the system to maintain structural stability while achieving operational flexibility and camera maneuverability when needed during procedures
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter discloses a medical imaging device, comprising a rigid housing, at least two camera units located within said rigid housing, capturing images of different directions of view and a maneuver mechanism configured to change the physical orientation of a camera of the at least two camera units.