Scanning Endoscope Reduces Diameter via External Light Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning endoscopes have limitations in minimizing invasiveness due to the need for light-receiving optical fibers within the inserted portion, which increases the diameter and affects image quality and light balance.
Innovation Solution
A scanning endoscope system with a light-scanning portion that uses a piezoelectric element to two-dimensionally vibrate an optical fiber for spot-like illumination and a separate light-detecting portion at the body surface to detect reflected light, allowing for reduced invasiveness and improved image quality by adjusting light levels and sensitivities based on tissue transmittance and sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light-receiving optical fibers are included within the inserted portion, then reflected light can be detected, but the diameter of the inserted portion increases and invasiveness is not minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate functional modules: an illumination module (inserted portion) that emits and scans light, and a detection module (external portion) that receives reflected light. This segmentation allows the inserted portion to contain only illumination components without light-receiving optical fibers, thereby minimizing its diameter and invasiveness while maintaining detection capability through the separate external detector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system consisting of scanning optics and beam steering mechanisms that couple the illumination source to the detection system. The scanned illumination light serves as an intermediary carrier that conveys information about the imaging subject to the external detector, enabling indirect detection without requiring light-receiving fibers inside the inserted portion.
2Measurement precision
If multiple detection optical fibers are arranged along the circumferential direction, then image quality improves, but device complexity and structure become more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is extracted from the inserted portion and placed in a separate external device. This eliminates the need for complex arrangements of multiple detection optical fibers within the constrained space of the inserted portion, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining or enhancing detection capability through the external detector's optimal positioning and larger form factor.
3Length of moving object
If the inserted portion diameter is reduced to minimize invasiveness, then patient comfort improves, but light-receiving capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By separating illumination and detection functions into different physical locations (inserted portion vs. external device), the system allows the inserted portion to be minimized in diameter for patient comfort while the external detector can be optimized for detection performance without spatial constraints.
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
This configuration decreases the diameter of the inserted portion, enhances image precision, and improves color reproducibility by optimizing light levels and detection sensitivity, while maintaining low light loss and noise.
Implementation Method 1
a light-scanning portion that scans the illumination light on the imaging subject
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a scanning endoscope system including: an illumination-light emitting portion that is inserted into a body of a patient and that emits illumination light emitted from a light-source portion toward an imaging subject in the body in a spot-like manner; a light scanner that scans the illumination light on the imaging subject; and a light detector that is disposed at a body surface of the patient, and that detects reflected light coming from the scanning position in the imaging subject, at which the illumination light is scanned by the light scanner.