Optical head assembly with dome, and device for use thereof

• US 20030227547A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• 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

Abstract

A device and system including an optical head assembly and a dome, and a method for use thereof. The optical head assembly includes an illumination portion and an imaging portion and is situated behind the dome. The dome may have an optical system integrated therein.

Claims

1. A system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, the optical head assembly being situated substantially behind the dome, wherein

the optical head assembly comprises an illumination portion and an imaging portion;

and wherein

the dome comprises an optical system.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the illumination portion includes at least one light source and wherein the imaging portion includes at least one image sensor.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an alignment element configured for aligning the optical system with the imaging portion.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the dome includes dome material and wherein said dome material substantially surrounds at least the illumination portion.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element is integral to the dome.

6. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element in integrated onto the imaging portion.

7. The system according to claim 1 comprising an optical isolation element.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the optical isolation element is situated between at least one illumination portion and at least one imaging portion.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element includes opaque material.

10. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element includes opaque material, the alignment element substantially surrounding the imaging portion.

11. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element is selected from a group comprising of shims, shoulders, a lens holder, a ring or one or more positioning grooves.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the shoulders extend from the imaging portion.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the shoulders extend from the dome.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the lens holder extends from the imaging portion.

15. The system according to claim 11 wherein the ring extends from the imaging portion.

16. The system according to claim 3 wherein the alignment element includes an least one groove is positioned on the dome.

17. The system according to claim 4 wherein the dome material is selected from a group comprising of PMMA, poly urethane, COC, COP, NAS, acrylic or poly-carbonate.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the optical system is positioned substantially near an outer surface of the dome.

19. The system according to claim 1 wherein the optical system is positioned substantially near an inner surface of the dome.

20. The system according to claim 2 wherein at least one image sensor is mounted on a support surface.

21. The system according to claim 1 wherein the imaging portion further comprises at least one optical filter.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the optical filter is selected from the group consisting of IR reject filters and color filters.

23. The system according to claim 2 wherein the at least one image sensor is selected from a group comprising:

CMOS, CCD or InGaAs.

24. The system according to claim 2 wherein the at least one illuminating source is mounted on a support surface.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein the light source is an adjustably positioned light source.

26. The system according to claim 2 wherein the at least one light source is selected from a group comprising white LEDs, color LEDs, laser diodes or any combination thereof.

27. The system according to claim 1 wherein the optical system is selected from a group comprising one or more lenses, one or more composite lens assemblies, one or more optical filters, one or more mirrors, one or more prisms or combination thereof.

28. The system according to claim 1 wherein the dome includes more than one material.

29. The system according to claim 1 wherein the dome includes more than one section.

30. The system according to claim 29 wherein a first section of the dome is placed substantially over the imaging portion and a second section of the dome is placed substantially over the illumination portion.

31. The system according to claim 29 further comprising an optical isolation element.

50. The system according to claim 1 wherein the dome is of a shape having at least one focal curve.

61. An in vivo imaging device comprising a system according to claim 1.

68. A method for in vivo imaging comprising the step of utilizing a device according to claim 61.

32. In a system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, the optical head assembly being situated substantially behind the dome, and said optical head assembly includes an illumination portion and an imaging portion, the dome having at least one alignment element integrated therein.

33. The dome according to claim 32 wherein the alignment element is selected from a group consisting of shims, shoulders, a lens holder, a ring or one or more positioning grooves.

34. The dome according to claim 32 wherein the dome includes more than one material.

35. The dome according to claim 32, said dome comprising more than one section.

65. An in vivo imaging device comprising a dome according to claim 32.

36. In a system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, the optical head assembly being situated substantially behind the dome, and said optical head assembly comprises an illumination portion and an imaging portion, the dome having an optical system integrated therein.

37. The dome according to claim 36 wherein the optical system is selected from a group comprising one or more lenses, one or more composite lens assemblies, one or more optical filters, one or more mirrors, one or more prisms or combination thereof.

38. The dome according to claim 36 wherein the optical system is positioned substantially near an outer surface of the dome.

39. The dome according to claim 36 wherein the optical system is positioned substantially near an inner surface of the dome.

40. The dome according to claim 36 having at least one alignment element integrated therein.

41. The dome according to claim 36 having at least one optical isolation element integrated therein.

42. The dome according to claim 36 wherein the dome is of a shape having at least one focal curve.

66. An in vivo imaging device comprising a dome according to claim 36.

43. A system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, the optical head assembly being situated substantially behind the dome, wherein:

the optical head assembly comprises an optical system, an illumination portion and an imaging portion; and

wherein the dome includes more than one material.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein optical system is substantially surrounded by an optical well.

45. The system according to claim 44 wherein the optical well is selected from a group comprising an opaque barrier, a light trap, an optical filter, a series of separate barriers, an opaque plastic or any combination thereof.

62. An in vivo imaging device comprising a system according to claim 43.

46. A system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, the optical head assembly being situated substantially behind the dome, wherein:

the optical head assembly comprises an illumination portion and an imaging portion; and

wherein the dome comprises an optical isolation element integrated therein.

47. The system according to claim 46 further comprising an optical system.

48. The system according to claim 47 wherein optical system is substantially surrounded by an optical well.

49. The system according to claim 48 wherein the optical well is selected from a group comprising an opaque barrier, a light trap, an optical filter, a series of separate barriers, an opaque plastic or any combination thereof.

63. An in vivo imaging device comprising a system according to claim 46.

51. A system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome, wherein:

the optical head assembly is situated substantially behind the dome, said optical head assembly comprising an illumination portion and an imaging portion and said optical head assembly having an alignment element integrated therein.

52. The system according to claim 51 wherein the alignment element is configured for aligning the optical system with the imaging portion.

53. The system according to claim 51 wherein the alignment element is integrated into the imaging portion.

54. The system according to claim 51 wherein the alignment element includes opaque material.

55. The system according to claim 51 wherein the alignment element includes opaque material, the alignment element substantially surrounding the imaging portion.

56. The system according to claim 51 wherein the alignment element is selected from a group comprising of shims, a lens holder, a ring or a cone.

57. The system according to claim 51 further comprising an optical system.

58. The system according to claim 57 wherein optical system is substantially surrounded by an optical well.

59. The system according to claim 58 wherein the optical well is selected from a group comprising an opaque barrier, a light trap, an optical filter, a series of separate barriers, an opaque plastic or any combination thereof.

64. An in vivo imaging device comprising a system according to claim 51.

60. In a system comprising an optical head assembly and a dome wherein the optical head assembly is situated substantially behind the dome, an optical head assembly comprising an illumination portion and an imaging portion and having an alignment element integrated therein

67. An in vivo imaging device comprising an optical head assembly according to claim 60.

69. A device comprising:

an optical head means for holding an imaging portion and an illumination portion; and

a dome means for protecting the optical head means from an in-vivo environment, the optical head means being situated substantially behind the dome means.

70. The device of claim 69 comprising an imager.

71. A device comprising:

an optical head assembly means for forming an illumination portion and an imaging portion; and

a dome means for isolating the optical head assembly means from an external environment, the dome means including an integrated optical system.

72. The device of claim 71 comprising an imager.