In vivo camera with multiple sources to illuminate tissue at different distances
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a plurality of emitters of electromagnetic radiation enclosed within a housing, the housing comprising a tubular wall, said plurality of emitters being located in a ring around a camera;
an optical element enclosed within said housing, the optical element being located in a path of a portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters so as to direct at least a first fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation out through the housing, at least a portion of the optical element being on a first side of a lateral plane and said at least one emitter being on a second side of the lateral plane, wherein the optical element comprises a concentrator shaped to reduce angular divergence of at least said portion of electromagnetic radiation;
wherein all electromagnetic radiation from said at least one emitter is emitted on the second side of the lateral plane;
wherein the lateral plane is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having a dimension along the longitudinal axis larger than any dimension within the lateral plane;
wherein the camera is positioned within the housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in said camera by at least a second fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation entering through the tubular wall on the first side of the lateral plane after reflection outside the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in vivo endoscope illuminates tissue using multiple sources. Light from a short-range source exits a tubular wall of the endoscope through a first illumination region that overlaps an imaging region, and the light returns through the imaging region after reflection by tissue, to form an image in a camera. Light from a long-range source exits the tubular wall through a second illumination region that does not overlap the imaging region. The endoscope of some embodiments includes a mirror, and light from an emitter for the short-range source is split and reaches the first illumination region from both sides of an optical axis of the camera. Illuminating the first illumination region with split fractions of light results in greater uniformity of illumination, than illuminating directly with an un-split beam. The energy generated by each source is changed depending on distance of the tissue to be imaged.
69 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a plurality of emitters of electromagnetic radiation enclosed within a housing, the housing comprising a tubular wall, said plurality of emitters being located in a ring around a camera; an optical element enclosed within said housing, the optical element being located in a path of a portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters so as to direct at least a first fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation out through the housing, at least a portion of the optical element being on a first side of a lateral plane and said at least one emitter being on a second side of the lateral plane, wherein the optical element comprises a concentrator shaped to reduce angular divergence of at least said portion of electromagnetic radiation; wherein all electromagnetic radiation from said at least one emitter is emitted on the second side of the lateral plane; wherein the lateral plane is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having a dimension along the longitudinal axis larger than any dimension within the lateral plane; wherein the camera is positioned within the housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in said camera by at least a second fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation entering through the tubular wall on the first side of the lateral plane after reflection outside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of imaging comprising:
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emitting electromagnetic radiation by at least one emitter in a plurality of emitters enclosed within a housing, the housing comprising a tubular wall; wherein the plurality of emitters are located in a ring around a camera; wherein an optical element is enclosed within said housing and the optical element is located in a path of a portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by said at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters so as to direct at least a first fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation out through the housing, at least a portion of the optical element being on a first side of a lateral plane and said at least one emitter being on a second side of the lateral plane, wherein the optical element comprises a concentrator shaped to reduce angular divergence of at least said portion of electromagnetic radiation; wherein all electromagnetic radiation from said at least one emitter is emitted on the second side of the lateral plane; wherein the lateral plane is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing, the housing having a dimension along the longitudinal axis larger than any dimension within the lateral plane; and sensing an image in the camera; wherein at least a portion of the image is created in the camera by at least a second fraction of said portion of said electromagnetic radiation entering through the tubular wall on the first side of the lateral plane after reflection outside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An apparatus comprising:
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means for imaging; means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, the means for emitting being enclosed within a housing, the housing comprising a tubular wall, the means for emitting being located in a ring around the means for imaging; and means for directing electromagnetic radiation, the means for directing being enclosed within said housing, the means for directing comprising an optical element located in a path of a portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the means for emitting so as to direct at least a first fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation out through the housing, at least a portion of the optical element being on a first side of a lateral plane and said at least one emitter being on a second side of the lateral plane, wherein the optical element comprises a concentrator shaped to reduce angular divergence of at least said portion of electromagnetic radiation; wherein all electromagnetic radiation from said means for emitting is emitted on the second side of the lateral plane; wherein the lateral plane is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the apparatus having a dimension along the longitudinal axis larger than any dimension within the lateral plane; the means for imaging being positioned within the housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in the means for imaging by at least a second fraction of said portion of electromagnetic radiation entering through the tubular wall on the first side of the lateral plane after reflection outside the housing.
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Specification