Rotating Medical Camera Handpiece for Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical cameras lack flexibility in switching between different working modes, such as lighting wavelengths and focus settings, making them cumbersome to use in clinical settings where quick adjustments are necessary.
Innovation Solution
A medical camera design featuring a rotatable sleeve with multiple optical windows and lighting systems, allowing easy switching between modes by rotating the mobile part relative to the fixed part, with automatic activation of the appropriate lighting system and adjustment of optical and processing parameters based on angular position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a medical camera uses pre-set focusing conditions and fixed lighting systems, then the device structure remains simple, but the flexibility to adapt to different clinical requirements is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotatable mobile part that can dynamically switch between different angular positions (0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) to select different optical windows and lighting systems. This dynamic configuration allows the camera to adapt to various clinical requirements (visible light, UV, infrared modes) without requiring multiple separate devices, thereby improving versatility while maintaining a compact single-unit structure.
2Measurement precision
If continuous focus adjustment is implemented, then the focusing precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple adjustment steps required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures four distinct optical windows with different focal lengths (24mm, 16mm, 12mm, 8mm) corresponding to different object distances. Instead of requiring continuous adjustment during operation, the user simply rotates the mobile part to select the appropriate pre-set focal length based on the clinical scenario, thereby achieving precise focusing while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lighting systems with different wavelengths are integrated, then the diagnostic capability for different pathologies is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates four different lighting systems (visible light, UV, infrared, and another wavelength) into a single mobile part that rotates to bring the appropriate lighting system into alignment with the optical axis. This merging of multiple lighting functions into one compact rotating assembly improves diagnostic capability for different pathologies while avoiding the complexity of having separate lighting devices.
4Reliability
If the camera is designed for endocavitary use with sterilization requirements, then the reliability for medical use is improved, but the ease of repair and maintenance deteriorates due to complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera into distinct segments: a fixed part containing the image sensor and electronic circuits, and a mobile part containing the optical windows and lighting systems. This segmentation allows the mobile part to be easily removed and sterilized separately, improving ease of maintenance and sterilization while maintaining the reliability required for endocavitary medical use.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera hand-piece for medical use includes a lighting system, an optical window, a fixed part in turn having an optical system for acquiring images through an optical window, an image sensor, electronic circuits for image processing, and optionally a prism. The hand-piece has an external part, which is mobile with respect to the internal fixed part, and rotatably commutable between at least two different working positions having different optical or lighting features, which are freely selectable by an operator. In one embodiment, the lighting system for lighting the framed field is positioned in the internal fixed part of the camera hand-piece, and the mobile distal part, non comprising electronic parts, can be sterilized in an autoclave.