Transflective Layer Video Laryngoscope Display Readability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video laryngoscopes face challenges in maintaining image readability and quality during outdoor emergency operations, particularly under direct sunlight conditions, where lighting conditions vary significantly from controlled indoor environments.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a transflective layer between the display and backlight in the video laryngoscope, along with a robust housing design and full-surface adhesive cover glass, enhances display readability and maintains high video quality even in bright outdoor conditions without the need for additional measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a standard display without a transflective layer is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the display becomes unreadable under direct sunlight conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay readabilityVSAvoiddisplay structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A transflective layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the display and the backlight. This layer has selective optical properties that allow it to reflect ambient light (improving readability in sunlight) while still permitting backlight transmission when needed. The transflective layer acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of display simplicity and outdoor readability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the video laryngoscope is used outdoors without a transflective layer, then the device remains simple, but image quality is lost under varying lighting conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutdoor usabilityVSAvoiddisplay components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transflective layer serves as an intermediary optical component that enables reliable outdoor operation. It reflects ambient light to enhance display visibility in bright conditions while maintaining compatibility with the existing backlight system, thereby improving reliability without requiring complete redesign of the display subsystem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical parameters of the display system are modified by introducing the transflective layer, which changes the light reflection and transmission characteristics. This parameter change allows the display to adapt to varying ambient lighting conditions, improving outdoor usability while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a transflective layer is added to improve sunlight readability, then display readability improves, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay readabilityVSAvoiddisplay structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transflective layer is positioned as an intermediary between the display and the user's environment. It passively modifies ambient light without requiring active control mechanisms, power consumption, or complex electronic components, thereby improving ease of operation with minimal increase in structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures the video laryngoscope can be used reliably outdoors with no loss of quality, providing clear video guidance for medical procedures under varying lighting conditions, including direct sunlight, while maintaining robustness and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

The transflective layer can have a reflectance of 0.1 to 0.8, in particular 0.1 to 0.5 for ambient light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a transmittance of 0.9 to 0.2, in particular 0.9 to 0.5 for light emitted by the backlight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransmission:

Data Source

PatentEP4335351A1Video laryngoscope
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 HEINE OPTOTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4335351A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4335351A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4335351A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A video laryngoscope (12) has a playback unit (16), a camera arm (20) for insertion into a patient, and a camera (26) arranged on the camera arm (20). The playback unit (16) has a screen (34) with a display (60), a backlight (64), and a transflective layer (62) located between the display (60) and the backlight (64).