Ring Illuminated Surgical Camera Radial LED Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive medical procedures, such as ureteroscopy, face challenges in visualizing internal anatomy due to inadequate illumination and visualization caused by small diameter, flexible instruments like ureteroscopes, which have limited working channels and uneven lighting, impairing surgical efficiency and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A small diameter imaging and illumination system featuring a ring illuminated surgical camera with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) radially positioned around a ring lens, providing uniform illumination and improved visualization within a compact design, suitable for medical endoscopy and industrial inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a single fiber optic illumination element or LED is used, then the ureteroscope diameter can be kept small, but the illumination is uneven and visualization quality is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into multiple separate LED elements arranged radially around the imaging element, with each LED providing illumination from a different direction. This segmentation allows for even distribution of light across the imaging field while maintaining a compact overall structure that fits within small diameter ureteroscopes.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple LED elements are used for uniform illumination, then illumination quality improves, but the device diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple LED elements are arranged in a radial pattern around the central imaging element, utilizing the circumferential dimension rather than extending the device diameter linearly. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple light sources to provide uniform illumination while maintaining a compact cross-sectional profile suitable for small diameter ureteroscopes.
3Ease of operation
If a larger working channel is provided, then instrument access and irrigant flow improve, but the overall device diameter increases reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The ureteroscope is designed with multiple separate functional channels including a working channel for instruments, an irrigation channel for fluid flow, and a steering mechanism with multiple control wires. This segmentation of functions allows for adequate instrument access and irrigant flow while distributing the space requirements across multiple narrow channels rather than requiring a single large channel, thereby maintaining overall device flexibility.
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 system enhances diagnostic and surgical capabilities by providing superior illumination and visualization while maintaining a small diameter, allowing for more flexible and effective minimally invasive procedures with improved light distribution and reduced instrument stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
Tiny cameras and light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been exploited in modern ureteroscope design
Implementation Method 2
a 'ring lens' coupling and guiding the light emission from the lighting chips for uniform emission about the imaging chip
Data Source
AI summary
Ring illuminated surgical cameras and scopes having a ring lens and a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs set behind an electronic imaging sensor (camera) and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.