TW201440716A - A probe with a rotational scanning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A probe with a rotational scanning mechanism which comprises a tube, at least a rotational mechanism, a shaft, and a magnet and an optical reflecting surface fixed on the shaft. A torque is generated in the magnet when an external magnetic field is applied to the probe. The rotation of the shaft and the optical reflecting surface can be controlled by controlling the external magnetic field.

Description

Rotating scanning probe

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a ray-rotating scanning probe; and more particularly to a ray-rotating scanning probe in which a rotating device is driven in a non-contact manner by an external magnetic field. This probe is usually used with an endoscope.

Other types of scanning probes known to perform circumferential scanning include motors. For example, the rotating scanning probe disclosed in the article "Rotational multiphoton endoscopy with a 1 μm fiber laser system" published by Gangjun Liu et al. in Optics Letters, No. 34, 2009, requires an external power supply for the energy required by the motor, so much Wire and increase the volume of the probe.

Probes mounted on endoscopes typically only transmit optical signals in a single direction (eg, forward or sideways) and are not capable of rotating around. However, probes that can be rotated for scanning are becoming more and more important for the application of certain technologies, such as the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to endoscopes. With a rotating scanning probe, the endoscope can perform tomography of the inner surface of the tubular object to be tested. Known His type of rotary scanning probes contain a motor that requires an external power supply to supply the energy required by the motor, thus adding more wires and increasing the volume of the probe. This not only limits the application of the endoscopes equipped with the rotary scanning probe, but also hinders the development of the endoscope technology toward the capsule endoscope.

Therefore, there is a need to develop a method for wirelessly driving a rotating scanning probe internal rotating device, so that the volume of the endoscope mounted on the rotating scanning probe is reduced, the application is not limited, and the endoscope technology is facilitated toward the capsule endoscope. The development of direction.

The rotary scanning probe of the present invention comprises a tube, one or several rotatable mechanisms, a rotating shaft, and a magnet mounted on the rotating shaft and a light reflecting surface. When the rotating scanning probe is subjected to an external magnetic field, the magnet generates a moment due to the action. The rotation of the rotating shaft and the light reflecting surface can be controlled by controlling the external magnetic field.

The effect of the invention is that the rotary scanning probe internal rotation device can be wirelessly driven, so that the rotary scanning probe does not need to be equipped with a motor, the volume of the endoscope is reduced, the application is not limited, and the endoscope technology is facilitated toward the capsule endoscope. The development of the mirror direction.

10‧‧‧Rotary scanning probe

11‧‧‧ tube

111‧‧‧ Cover

121‧‧‧Rotating mechanism

122‧‧‧Rotating mechanism

13‧‧‧ shaft

14‧‧‧ magnet

15‧‧‧reflecting surface

161‧‧‧ bushing

162‧‧‧ bushing

20‧‧‧ Optical Signal Generator

30‧‧‧External magnetic field generator

31‧‧‧Motor

32‧‧‧ magnet

33‧‧‧ fixture

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a combination (cross-sectional) view of the present invention and an optical signal transmitter.

Figure 3 is a combination of the present invention and an optical signal transmitter.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the driving of the present invention using an external magnetic field.

The making and operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. However, the embodiments and examples described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the optimal rotary scanning probe includes a tube, at least one rotatable mechanism, a rotating shaft, and a magnet mounted on the rotating shaft and a light reflecting surface. Referring to FIG. 1, the rotary scanning probe 10 includes a tube 11, two rotating mechanisms 121 and 122, a rotating shaft 13, and a magnet 14 and a light reflecting surface 15 mounted on the rotating shaft. The magnetic pole of the magnet 14 is as shown in Fig. 1, that is, the half pole is the N pole and the other half is the S pole. To prevent liquid or dust from entering the interior of the probe, an envelope 111 can be mounted at one end of the tube 11 (typically the other end of the reflective surface 15). In order to prevent the magnet 14 from interfering with the two rotating mechanisms 121 and 122, bushings 161 and 162 may be added therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 2, after the optical signal generator 20 is combined with the rotary scanning probe 10, the optical signal (shown by the dashed line) emitted by the optical signal generator 20 can be directed toward the specific direction by the light reflecting surface 15 (usually along the path of the probe). To) reflection. When the light reflecting surface 15 is rotated, the optical signal can be rotated and scanned. Here, the direction of the optical signal may be the direction of the second figure, or may be the opposite direction of the second figure. FIG. 3 is an external view of the optical signal generator 20 in combination with the rotary scanning probe 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the combination of the optical signal generator 20 and the rotating scanning probe 10 is subjected to an external magnetic field (where the magnetic field is generated by the magnet 32), the magnet 14 in the rotating scanning probe 10 is affected by this effect. Generate a moment. The rotation of the magnet 14, the rotating shaft 13 and the light reflecting surface 15 can be controlled by controlling the external magnetic field. In this way, the rotation scan of the optical signal can be achieved.

10‧‧‧Rotary scanning probe

11‧‧‧ tube

111‧‧‧ Cover

121‧‧‧Rotating mechanism

122‧‧‧Rotating mechanism

13‧‧‧ shaft

14‧‧‧ magnet

15‧‧‧reflecting surface

161‧‧‧ bushing

162‧‧‧ bushing

Claims (6)

A rotary scanning probe, the composition comprising at least: a tube for assembling all components therein; at least one rotatable mechanism for supporting a rotating shaft and allowing the rotating shaft to rotate; a rotating shaft, and being mounted on the rotating shaft A magnet and a light reflecting surface. According to the rotary scanning probe of claim 1, wherein the tube can be a square tube or a round tube. In the case of a square tube, the length and width of the tube shall not exceed 50 mm (mm); if it is a round tube, the outer diameter of the tube shall not exceed 50 mm. A rotary scanning probe according to the first aspect of the patent application, wherein the rotating mechanism is for supporting the rotating shaft and allowing the rotating shaft to rotate. The rotary scanning probe according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft, the magnet and the light reflecting surface may be integrally formed or may be fixed to each other by a joining method. A rotary scanning probe according to the first aspect of the patent application, wherein the magnets are distributed around the axis of the rotation axis. According to the rotary scanning probe of claim 1, wherein the light reflecting surface can be a plane or a curved surface.