Rotatable Video Endoscope Coupling for Stable Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video endoscopes face challenges with inefficient and unreliable transmission of electric energy and signals between the image sensor and the handle, leading to difficulties in handling and navigation during medical procedures, and are not suitable for high-pressure steam sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A video endoscope design featuring a rotatable interface portion with a detachable electrical connection assembly, including a flexible conductor element and sliding contacts, allowing for uninterrupted electrical connection during rotation and enabling easy handling and improved navigation, while also being autoclavable for sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shaft is made rotatable with respect to the handle to improve ergonomic handling, then ease of operation is improved, but the image orientation becomes unstable and navigation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The endoscope is divided into a rotatable shaft portion and a stationary handle portion. The shaft can be rotated independently to adjust viewing direction, while the handle remains fixed to maintain stable image orientation on the monitor, thus resolving the contradiction between ergonomic handling and navigation stability
Solution Approach 2:
A rotational coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the shaft and handle, allowing rotational movement of the shaft while maintaining electrical connection and mechanical support. This mediator enables the shaft rotation for ergonomic handling while keeping the image sensor and handle stationary for stable imaging
2Device complexity
If the image sensor is fixedly mounted in the shaft to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but image stability deteriorates during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the image sensor mounting location from the rotation axis. The image sensor is fixed in the handle (stationary), while the shaft (containing the objective lens) rotates independently. This segmentation maintains simple structure while ensuring image stability during rotation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the image sensor in the rotating shaft, the invention inverts the approach by fixing the image sensor in the stationary handle and allowing the shaft to rotate. This inversion resolves the contradiction by maintaining both structural simplicity and image stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional rod lens system is used to maintain image orientation during rotation, then image stability is improved, but adaptability to different viewing directions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical rod lens system with an electronic solution. The image sensor captures images in various orientations, and an image processing unit electronically erects and rotates the image as needed. This substitution provides full adaptability to different viewing directions while maintaining stable, upright image presentation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from mechanical image path fixedness to electronic image parameter adjustment. By using image processing to dynamically adjust image orientation and erection, the system achieves both adaptability to any shaft rotation angle and stable image presentation
4Ease of manufacture
If the electrical connection assembly is made detachable to improve ease of repair and sterilization, then ease of repair and manufacturability are improved, but reliability of electrical connection may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection assembly incorporates flexible conductor elements that can dynamically adapt to rotational movements while maintaining continuous electrical contact. This dynamic design allows detachable construction for ease of assembly and sterilization while ensuring reliable electrical connection during shaft rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses flexible printed circuit boards or flexible conductor elements in the electrical connection assembly. These flexible components can bend and rotate with the shaft while maintaining electrical continuity, enabling detachable design without compromising connection reliability
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 provides a reliable and durable electrical connection that maintains image stability during rotation, enhancing user navigation and operational safety, and allows for efficient sterilization, improving the overall performance and usability of the endoscope.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible conductor element configured to be spooled on and/or unspooled from the outer peripheral surface of the interface portion by rotating the interface portion relative to the housing
Implementation Method 2
sliding contacts
Data Source
AI summary
A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.