Circuit board assembly for a multiple viewing element endoscope using CMOS sensors

• US 10,488,648 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Krivopisk, Leonid, Aizenfeld, Amram, Salman, Golan
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E
• Application Number:
  US15/435,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20170242240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00197 characterised by multiple eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0625 for multiple fixed illumination angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2461 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

A circuit board design uses CMOS sensors for the tip section of a multi-viewing element endoscope. Side sensors and their optical assemblies are assembled to a common base board to save space. Individual base boards are separately constructed, inserted into grooves of a main base board, and are further connected to the main base board by means of flexible circuit boards.

Claims

1. A circuit board assembly for use in a tip section of a multi-viewing element endoscope, said tip comprising a front pointing viewing element, a first side pointing viewing element, and a second side pointing viewing element, wherein each viewing element comprises an image sensor and a lens assembly, said circuit board assembly comprising:

a first base board to which the front pointing viewing element is connected;

a second base board including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first side pointing viewing element is connected to the first side of the second base board, and wherein the second side pointing viewing element is facing a direction opposite the first side pointing viewing element and is connected to the second side of the second base board; and

a third base board to which said first and said second base boards are connected, wherein said first and said second base boards are placed perpendicular to said third base board, wherein the third base board includes;

a first slot having a shape substantially complimentary to a shape of an outer periphery of the first base board, and

a second slot having a shape substantially complimentary to a shape of an outer periphery of the second baseboard, wherein an end portion of the first baseboard is received by the first slot, and an end portion of the second baseboard is received by the second slot.

2. The circuit board assembly of claim 1, wherein said first and said second base boards are positioned perpendicular to each other.

3. The circuit board assembly of claim 1, wherein said first base board is coupled to a metal frame which is configured to hold the lens assembly of the front pointing viewing element.

4. The circuit board assembly of claim 1, wherein said second base board is coupled to at least one metal frame, wherein the metal frame is configured to hold the lens assembly of the at least one side viewing element.

5. The circuit board assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the front pointing viewing element, the first side pointing viewing element, and the second side pointing viewing element is associated with at least one illuminator, and wherein said circuit board assembly comprises a separate circuit board to hold each of the illuminators.

11. The circuit board assembly of claim 1, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first slot is substantially perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the second slot.

6. A circuit board assembly for the tip of a multi-viewing element endoscope, said tip comprising a front pointing viewing element, a first side pointing viewing element, and a second side pointing viewing element, wherein each viewing element comprises an image sensor and a lens assembly, said circuit board assembly comprising:

a first planar base board to which the front pointing viewing element is connected;

a second planar base board to which the first side pointing viewing element and the second side pointing viewing element are connected, wherein the first side pointing viewing element is connected to the second planar base board on a side opposite the side which the second side pointing viewing element is connected to the second planar base board;

a third base board having a first slot and a second slot, wherein each of said first and the second slots is adapted to receive an outer periphery of one of said first and said second base boards, wherein each of said first and the second base boards projects perpendicularly from said third base board, and wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first slot is transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the second slot.

7. The circuit board assembly of claim 6, further comprising a front illuminator circuit board.

8. The circuit board assembly of claim 7, wherein said front illuminator circuit board is shaped as a “

U” and

is configured to hold three illuminators associated with the front pointing viewing element.

9. The circuit board assembly of claim 6, further comprising two side illuminator circuit boards.

10. The circuit board assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the two side illuminator circuit boards is shaped as a “

U” and

is configured to hold two illuminators associated with the first side pointing viewing element and the second side pointing viewing element.

12. The circuit board assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and the second base boards are planar.

13. The circuit board assembly of claim 6, wherein a dimension of the first slot along a first direction is greater than a dimension of the second slot along the first direction.