Miniature endoscope system

• US 20020087047A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 07/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VisionScope, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VisionScope, Inc.
• Inventors: LaBombaro, Denis, Remijan, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/813,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/055 having rod-lens arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a small diameter imaging probe or endoscope, a solid state imaging device, and a light transmitting path that collects light at a distal end of the probe and directs the light along the length of the probe to the imaging device. The invention also relates to a small diameter endoscope having a light transmitting path with a light absorbing layer and a super clad layer defining the image aperture.

The invention relates to a small diameter endoscope system for imaging of objects or tissue within a body. An image relay is used to couple image light between optical elements of the probe such that an image is detected by an imaging sensor at a proximal end of the device.

Claims

1. A miniature endoscope comprising:

a housing having an optical coupler, an optical path for a light source and an imaging device having at least 300,000 pixels; and

a waveguide cavity having a light absorbing layer and a diameter less than 2 mm, the waveguide cavity mounted to the housing, the optical coupler directing light from the optical path for the light source through the waveguide to an object being imaged and receiving light from the object being imaged through the waveguide cavity and directing the light to the imaging device.

2. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a mounting surface formed within the housing such that securing of the optical coupler against the mounting surface aligns the faces of the optical coupler along an optical axis of the endoscope.

3. The endoscope of claim 2 wherein the housing further comprises a clamp to secure the optical coupler against the mounting surface.

4. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a beam dump aligned with an axis of the optical coupler, the beam dump removing a nonreflected portion of illumination from the light source.

5. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein endoscope further comprises a compensating prism that corrects for optical aberrations caused by the optical coupler.

6. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the endoscope further comprises a plurality of lenses mounted within the housing.

7. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical coupler comprises a first prism and a second prism.

8. The endoscope of claim 7 further comprising an optical coating between the first prism and the second prism.

9. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical path comprises a fiber optic element coupled between a light source and the optical coupler, the fiber optic element having a distal end that is aligned with an axis of the optical coupler.

10. The endoscope of claim 9 wherein the fiber optic element comprises a fiber optic lock, the lock engaging the housing of the endoscope to secure the fiber optic element to the housing.

11. The endoscope of claim 9 wherein the light source and fiber optic element have a numerical aperture value equivalent to a numerical aperture value of the endoscope.

12. The endoscope of claim 9 wherein the light source comprises a reflector, the reflector directing light from a lamp of the light source toward the fiber optic element.

13. The endoscope of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element comprises a taper portion, the taper portion collimating light from the light source.

14. The endoscope of claim 9 wherein the light source comprises an external lamp.

15. The endoscope of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment sleeve, the adjustment sleeve positioning the imaging device along a long axis of the endoscope, thereby providing for focusing of the imaging device.

16. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a length to diameter ratio of approximately 40.

17. The endoscope of claim 16 wherein the length is equal to approximately 6 mm and the diameter is equal to approximately 1.62 mm.

18. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a sheath extending over the housing of the endoscope, the sheath forming a sterile barrier between the endoscope and an area external to the sheath.

19. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a rod and lens assembly having at least one lens mounted at a distal end of the rod and lens assembly.

20. The endoscope of claim 19 wherein the at least one lens is mounted within a notch located at the distal end of the rod and lens assembly.

21. The endoscope of claim 19 wherein the at least one lens is formed of an epoxy material.

22. The endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a cannula assembly mounted to the endoscope.

23. The endoscope of claim 22 wherein the cannula assembly comprises a cannula body, the waveguide cavity mounted within the cannula body.

24. The endoscope of claim 22 wherein the cannula assembly comprises a flushing port.

25. The endoscope of claim 22 wherein the cannula assembly further comprises a stylet for penetrating a tissue and allowing insertion of the cannula assembly within the tissue.

26. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion, the first housing portion securing the waveguide cavity and the second housing portion containing the imaging device.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a clamp for the optical coupler, the clamp securing the optical coupler within the housing.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising sealing the optical coupler to the mounting surface.

30. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a beam dump adjacent to the optical coupler for removal of an unused portion of illumination from a light source.

27. A method of aligning an optical coupler along an optical axis within a miniature endoscope comprising:

providing a housing having a mounting surface, formed along an optical axis in the endoscope; and

securing the optical coupler within the housing against the mounting surface.

31. A method of matching a numerical aperture value from a light source with a numerical aperture value for an endoscope comprising:

providing an endoscope having a first numerical aperture value;

providing a light source and a fiber optic element having a second numerical aperture value, a distal end of the fiber optic element attached to the light source;

inserting a reflector within the light source to modify the numerical value of the light source;

attaching a taper portion to a proximal portion of the fiber optic element; and

allowing light from the light source and reflector to travel through the fiber optic element and taper to the endoscope to match the numerical aperture value from the light source with the numerical aperture value of the endoscope.

32. A miniature endoscope comprising:

a first housing portion having an optical coupler and an optical path for a light source;

a second housing portion attachable to the first housing portion, the second housing portion having an imaging device having at least 300,000 pixels; and

a waveguide cavity having a light absorbing layer and a diameter less than 2 mm, the waveguide cavity being mounted to the housing, the optical coupler directing light from the optical path for the light source through the waveguide cavity to an object being imaged and receiving light from the object being imaged through the waveguide cavity and directing the light to the imaging device.

33. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the first housing portion comprises a mounting surface formed within the first housing portion such that securing of the optical coupler against the mounting surface aligns the faces of the optical coupler along an optical axis of the endoscope.

34. The endoscope of claim 33 wherein the first housing portion further comprises a clamp to secure the optical coupler against the mounting surface.

35. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the first housing portion comprises a beam dump aligned with an axis of the optical coupler, the beam dump removing a nonreflected portion of illumination from the light source.

36. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the endoscope further comprises a compensating prism that corrects for optical aberrations caused by the optical coupler.

37. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the endoscope further comprises a plurality of lenses mounted within the first housing portion.

38. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the optical coupler comprises a first prism and a second prism.

39. The endoscope of claim 38 further comprising an optical coating between the first prism and the second prism.

40. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the optical path comprises a fiber optic element coupled between a light source and the optical coupler, the fiber optic element having a distal end that is aligned with an axis of the optical coupler.

41. The endoscope of claim 40 wherein the fiber optic element comprises a fiber optic lock, the lock engaging the first housing portion of the endoscope to secure the fiber optic element to the housing.

42. The endoscope of claim 40 wherein the light source and fiber optic element have a numerical aperture value equivalent to a numerical aperture value of the endoscope.

43. The endoscope of claim 40 wherein the light source comprises a reflector, the reflector directing light from a lamp of the light source toward the fiber optic element.

44. The endoscope of claim 40 wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element comprises a taper portion, the taper portion collimating light from the light source.

45. The endoscope of claim 40 wherein the light source comprises an external lamp.

46. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the endoscope comprises an adjustment sleeve attached between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the adjustment sleeve positioning the imaging device along a long axis of the endoscope, thereby providing for focusing of the imaging device.

47. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a length to diameter ratio of approximately 40.

48. The endoscope of claim 47 wherein the length is equal to approximately 6 mm and the diameter is equal to approximately 1.62 mm.

49. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a sheath extending over the first housing portion and the second housing portion of the endoscope, the sheath forming a sterile barrier between the endoscope and an area external to the sheath.

50. The endoscope of claim 32 wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a rod and lens assembly having at least one lens mounted at a distal end of the rod and lens assembly.

51. The endoscope of claim 50 wherein the at least one lens is mounted within a notch located at the distal end of the rod and lens assembly.

52. The endoscope of claim 50 wherein the at least one lens is formed of an epoxy material.

53. The endoscope of claim 32 further comprising a cannula assembly mounted to the endoscope.

54. The endoscope of claim 53 wherein the cannula assembly comprises a cannula body, the waveguide cavity mounted within the cannula body.

55. The endoscope of claim 53 wherein the cannula assembly comprises a flushing port.

56. The endoscope of claim 53 wherein the cannula assembly further comprises a stylet for penetrating a tissue and allowing insertion of the cannula assembly within the tissue.