Light module for an endoscopic system, use of a light module, and endoscopic system
A light module for an endoscopic system and including: a coupling element; at least one light guiding element connected to the coupling element and configured to guide light towards a distal tip unit of an endoscope included in the endoscopic system; a plurality of light emitting devices connected to the coupling element and configured to emit light; a plurality of collimator elements or portions configured to collimate the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices; a plurality of mirror elements or portions configured to reflect the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices and collimated by the plurality of collimator elements or portions towards and into the at least one light guiding element.
1 . A light module comprising:
a coupling element being a single and integral part comprised of a transparent material, the coupling element including a main body portion, a proximal side, a distal side, a plurality of collimator elements or portions formed on the distal side, and a plurality of convex surfaces formed on the proximal side, the main body portion including a common light receiving portion, plurality of collimator elements or portions being arranged around the common light receiving portion;
at least one light guiding element aligned with the common light receiving portion;
a plurality of light emitting devices mounted onto an outside surface of the coupling element and on the distal side of the coupling element, the plurality of light emitting devices being configured to emit light through the plurality of collimator elements or portions and through the transparent material to the plurality of convex surfaces;
a plurality of mirror elements or portions configured to reflect the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices and collimated by the plurality of collimator elements or portions towards and into the at least one light guiding element, the plurality of mirror elements or portions comprising thin films or coatings on the plurality of convex surfaces of the coupling element,
wherein each light emitting device of the plurality of light emitting devices emits its light through a specific or own collimator element or portion onto a specific or own mirror element or portion, and wherein the plurality of mirror elements or portions reflects and directs the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices through the transparent material and into the common light receiving portion.
2 . The light module of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element further comprises arm portions extending from the main body portion, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting devices is mounted on one of the arm portions, and wherein the main body portion is adapted to connect the at least one light guiding element, the at least one light guiding element thereby receiving the light from the common light receiving portion.
3 . The light module of claim 2 , further comprising heat-sinks, each heat-sink thermally coupled to one of the plurality of light emitting devices, wherein the heat-sinks are arranged on the arm portions around a central axis traversing the common light receiving portion.
4 . The light module of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element is a polymer part.
5 . The light module of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a central axis, wherein the coupling element is adapted to connect the at least one light guiding element, and wherein a receiving portion of the at least one light guiding element is connected to the coupling element and arranged on the central axis, the at least one light guiding element thereby receiving light from the common light receiving portion.
6 . The light module of claim 1 , wherein the coupling element comprises a central axis, and wherein the plurality of light emitting devices are arranged around the central axis and are spaced in a circumferential direction of the coupling element.
7 . The light module of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of light emitting devices are arranged on a first circle around the central axis and are equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the coupling element.
8 . The light module of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of mirror elements or portions are arranged on a second circle around the central axis.
9 . The light module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of mirror elements or portions are equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the coupling element or are arranged directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the coupling element.
10 . The light module of claim 1 , further comprising cooling elements or portions arranged at or connected to the coupling element, the cooling elements or portions being configured to cool the light module.
11 . The light module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light emitting devices comprise a white light emitting diode and a colored, non-white, light emitting diode.
12 . An endoscopic system comprising:
the light module of claim 1 ;
the at least one light guiding element connected to the coupling element of the light module; and
an endoscope comprising:
a handle or interface; and
an insertion cord connected to the handle or interface and including a distal tip unit,
wherein the at least one light guiding element extends through the insertion cord to guide the light toward the distal tip unit.
13 . The endoscopic system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of light emitting devices and the coupling element are positioned in the handle or interface.
14 . The endoscopic system of claim 13 , further comprising a display unit connectable to the endoscope.
15 . The endoscopic system of claim 12 , further comprising a display unit connected to the endoscope, wherein the plurality of light emitting devices and the coupling element are positioned in the display unit, and wherein the at least one light guiding element extends from the display unit through the insertion cord.
16 . An endoscope comprising:
a handle or interface;
an insertion cord connected to the handle or interface and including a distal tip unit;
at least one light fiber or light guide; and
the light module of claim 1 .
17 . The endoscope of claim 16 , wherein the coupling element further comprises convex surfaces on the distal side, each of the convex surfaces positioned between a light emitting diode and a corresponding reflective surface, wherein in use the light emitted by the light emitting diode passes through the convex surface and is reflected by the reflective surface toward the common light receiving portion.
18 . The endoscope of claim 16 , wherein the coupling element further comprises a main body portion and arm portions extending from the main body portion, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is mounted on one of the arm portions.
19 . The endoscope of claim 18 , wherein the light emitting diodes comprise a white light emitting diode and a non-white light emitting diode.