Final Design

The final jacket design incorporated six major components using a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom-manufactured parts. A worm gear mechanism served as both the hinge for opening the jacket and the driving force for adjusting the angles of the fiber optic cables. This mechanism allowed simultaneous rotation of two gears, resulting in accurate and synchronized changes to the fiber angles. Two angle readouts further enhanced the usability of the design, providing users with real-time feedback on the angle measurements. One readout used increments of twelve degrees, corresponding to a single rotation of the knob on the worm gear, while the other provided finer adjustments in increments of one degree, enabling precise control over the focal depth.

3D printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) mounts were designed to securely hold the transducers in place within the jacket, facilitating seamless integration and compatibility with existing imaging systems. Optical fiber cable mounts, featuring seven grooves to accommodate various types of optical fiber cables ensured stable and secure positioning of the cables, optimizing light transmission, and enhancing overall imaging quality.

The jacket halves themselves were made of 6061 aluminum, designed to withstand repeated usage. A simple spring latch mechanism was incorporated to securely close and maintain the jacket halves during operation, ensuring stability in imaging procedures.

The final jacket design was tested to verify its ability to achieve the focal depth range of 0.5 to 5 cm. The jacket succeeded, attaining a focal depth range of 0.49 to 5.32 cm for the predicted optical fiber angle range of 21 to 55 degrees. In subsequent chapters, detailed descriptions of each component and experimental testing will provide a comprehensive understanding of the design architecture and functionality.