The present embodiment generally relates to an image processing device, and more particularly the present embodiment relates to an antifogging device for endoscopy and method for removing fog from an optical lens of the endoscopy thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This section is intended only to provide background information pertaining to the similar field of the present invention, and may be used only to enhance the understanding of the present invention and not as admissions of prior art.
Endoscopy is a medical procedure for capturing images of interior body organs. Such procedure permits detail analysis of the desired body organ. The procedure involves inserting a specialized instrument inside body through throat or bottom. Such an instrument is known as endoscope. The endoscope is a flexible, thin, tube like structure. The endoscope has a small camera along with a light fitted at one end thereof, showing internal images of the body organs on a screen.
While the endoscope is functional to view the internal view of the body, fog may develop on lens of the camera thereof. The fog may reduce the quality of images captured by the camera, resulting in blurred images. In an instance, the fog may develop due to temperature difference between the endoscope and body especially when cold endoscope gets into the body and the temperature thereof being lower AS compared to that of the body. Lower temperature of the inserted endoscope results in condensation of water vapors on the camera lens. In other instances, high humidity inside the body may also contribute to condensation of the water vapors on the camera lens. Sometimes water or air may also ingress during the endoscopy, lowering the temperature of the camera lens thereby causing fogging of the lens.
In other instances, a medical procedure- Electrocauterization may also produce water vapor and heat, and condensation of the cool camera lens, fogging up thereof. Similarly, other medical procedures such as thermal injury during diathermy or blood or other fluids may also reduce visibility and quality of images on the screen. There are conventional methods for preventing fogging up of the camera lens of the endoscopy. For example, heating the endoscopy lens to temperature of the body before inserting therein. Such heating is performed using warm towels or warm water baths. Such heating prevents the temperature difference between the endoscopy lens and the body, however, such a procedure may be ineffective and insufficient to reduce demisting. Other conventional methods involve removing the endoscope from the body once after the fog appears on the camera lens. Such method involves cleaning the endoscope with dry sponge and placing the endoscope back inside the body, thereby increasing effort and time. In addition, such method creates hastles for an operator to insert the endoscopy into the body again and again, and also inconvenience to the body of the person whom the procedure is performed. In some other instances, wet antifogging method involves coating emulsion on camera lens. Such emulsion dries up, releasing a polymer following precipitation thereof. Following the precipitation, emulsion coated lens surface may lack optical transparency, reducing quality of images of body organs. In other instances, silicon compounds may be applied on the lens to remove fogging. However, such compounds are for single use, increasing cost. Hydrophilic polymers may also be applied on the lens for removing fog on the camera lens such as polyvinyl alcohol. However, the polyvinyl alcohol may not be firmly attached to material of lens such as acrylic or cellulosic films, making thereof unsuitable as a coating material. Hydrophobic coating may also be applied on the camera lens for preventing contact between water vapor and lens, however such a coating may cause the formation of large droplets of water, resulting in fogging up of the lens. Some other conventional methods may involve use of antifogging lens. However, such antifogging lens may again be inconvenient to use and exhibits poor insulation property.
Therefore, there exists a need to find alternatives to the conventional methods for preventing fogging up of the camera lens, enhancing image quality captured by the camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in the view of the above problems, and the present invention discloses a composition for removing airborne microorganisms and method for preparing thereof.
In an aspect, an antifogging device (100) for endoscope is provided herein. The antifogging device (100) includes an optical lens (102) and a layer of thin film (104) deposited over the lens, characterized such that the film (104) removing fog appearing on the lens (102) by supplying electric current and electromagnetic waves. The thin film material is selected from a group consisting of one or more of thermally sensitive material, electrically sensitive material, electromagnetic waves producing material, magnetic waves producing material, and/or combination thereof. The current is configured to remove the fog from the lens. The layer of thin film (104) is coated at least a portion of the lens and/or periphery thereof. The thin film (104) absorbs or vaporizes water droplets of the fog appearing on the lens.
In another aspect, a method (200) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device having an optical lens and an electrically active or optical material deposited thereon is provided herein. The method (200) includes supplying electrical current to the antifogging device at step 202. The method (200) further includes heating the material at step 204 characterized such that the heat transferring to the optical lens from the material and warming thereof. Thereafter, the method (200) includes removing the water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 206. The current is supplied through AC or DC.
In yet another aspect, a method (300) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device comprising an optical lens and a magnetic coil beneath thereof is provided herein. The method (300) includes generating electromagnetic waves to antifogging device at step 302. The method (300) further includes heating the lens at step 304 through the waves and warming thereof. The heat is supplied to remove the fog Thereafter, the method (300) includes removing water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 306.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the embodiment will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram depicting an antifogging device (100), according to the embodiment herein;
FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram depicting thin film material coated over lens, according to the embodiment herein;
FIG. 3 illustrates a method (200) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy, according to the embodiment herein; and
FIG. 4 illustrates another method (300) for removing fog from the optical lens of the endoscopy, according to the embodiment herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
In an aspect, an antifogging device (100) for endoscope is provided herein. As shown in FIG.1, the device (100) includes an optical lens (102) and a layer of thin film deposited over the lens (104). In another aspect, the device includes at least one optical lens. In another aspect, layer of thin film is coated over at least a portion of the lens and/or periphery thereof. In another aspect, the layer deposited over the lens, when supplied with electric current, removes fog appearing thereon. In another aspect, the electric current is supplied through the thin film to completely remove the fog appearing on the lens. In another aspect, magnetic coil may be used to produce the electric current.
In another aspect, the thin film material for coating an optical lens is provided herein. The thin film material may include at least one or number of thermally sensitive material, electromagnetic waves producing material, magnetic waves producing material and/or combination thereof. In another aspect, the thin film material may include thermistor. The thermistor is a resistor and resistance thereof is dependent on temperature. The thermistor may be coated on at least a portion of lens or periphery thereof. When large amount of electric current is passed through the thermistor, heat is produced therefrom. The thermistor works at both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). The heat generated from thermistor is transferred to the lens. Such heat may evaporate or absorb fog appearing on the lens. In another aspect, the thin film material may include electrical resistance wire. The electrical wires are employed for heating purposes. Such wires may offer resistance to flow of electricity therefrom. The wire may be coated on at least a portion of lens or periphery thereof. When large amount of electric current is passed through the wire, electric energy is converted to heat energy. Such heat is transferred to the lens and may evaporate or absorb the fog appearing on the lens. Example of the electrical resistance wire may include such as but are not limited to Nichrome. In yet another aspect, the thin film material may include optically active material. Such material may be coated on at least a portion of lens or periphery thereof. When electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays are passed through the material, heat is produced. The material absorbs the generated heat. Such heat is transferred to the lens and may evaporate or absorb the fog appearing on the lens.
In another aspect, a method (200) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device having an optical lens and an electrically active or optical material deposited thereon is provided herein. The method (200) includes supplying electrical current to the antifogging device at step 202. The method (200) further includes heating the material at step 204 characterized such that the heat transferring to the optical lens from the material and warming thereof. The heat is supplied to instantly remove the fog appearing on the lens. Thereafter, the method (200) includes removing the water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 206.
In yet another aspect, a method (300) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device comprising an optical lens and a magnetic coil beneath thereof is provided herein. The method (300) includes generating electromagnetic waves to antifogging device at step 302. The method (300) further includes heating the lens at step 304 through the waves and warming thereof. The heat is supplied to instantly remove the fog appearing on the lens. Thereafter, the method (300) includes removing water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 306.

CLAIMS:I/WE CLAIM:
1. An antifogging device (100) for endoscopy comprising:
a optical lens (102); and
a layer of a thin film (104) deposited over the lens , characterized such that the film (104) removing fog appearing on the lens (102) by supplying electric current and electromagnetic waves.
2. The antifogging device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin film material is selected from a group consisting of one or more of thermally sensitive material, electrically sensitive material, electromagnetic waves producing material, magnetic waves producing material, and/or combinations thereof.
3. The anitfogging device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current removes the fog from the lens (102).
4. The antifogging device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the layer of thin film (104) is coated at least a portion of the lens and/or periphery thereof.
5. The antifogging device (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the thin film (104) absorbs or vaporizes water droplets of the fog appearing on the lens.
6. A method (200) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device comprising an optical lens and an electrically active or optical material deposited thereon, the method (200) comprising:
supplying electrical current to the antifogging device at step 202;
heating the material at step 204 characterized such that the heat transferring to the optical lens from the material and warming thereof; and;
removing the water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 206.
7. The method (200) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the current is supplied through AC or DC.
8. A method (300) for removing fog from an optical lens of an endoscopy through an antifogging device comprising an optical lens and a magnetic coil beneath thereof, the method (300) comprising:
generating electromagnetic waves to the antifogging device at step 302;
heating the lens at step 304 through the waves and warming thereof; and
removing water vapors of the fog appearing on the lens therefrom at step 306.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heat is supplied to remove the fog.