Imaging system for video endoscope
First Claim
1. An endoscope that is removably connectable to a control cabinet to form a system for examining an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a number of lumens therein;
an imaging assembly at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft to produce image signals representative of an internal body cavity, the imaging assembly including;
a cap having one or more illumination ports through which illumination light is passed and an imaging port; and
a heat exchanger that is insertable into the cap, the heat exchanger including one or more light emitting diodes mounted thereon and aligned with the one or more illumination ports, a cooling channel in thermal contact with the one or more light emitting diodes, a lens assembly aligned with the imaging port and an image sensor that produces the image signals that are representative of the internal body cavity.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An endoscope that is removably connectable to a control cabinet to form a system for examining an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and a number of lumens therein;
an imaging assembly at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft to produce image signals representative of an internal body cavity, the imaging assembly including;
a cap having one or more illumination ports through which illumination light is passed and an imaging port; and
a heat exchanger that is insertable into the cap, the heat exchanger including one or more light emitting diodes mounted thereon and aligned with the one or more illumination ports, a cooling channel in thermal contact with the one or more light emitting diodes, a lens assembly aligned with the imaging port and an image sensor that produces the image signals that are representative of the internal body cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An imaging system for use with an endoscope, comprising:
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a cap having a front face having openings therein for the disbursement of illumination light and the capture of imaging light;
a heat exchanger that is fitted within the cap, the heat exchanger including;
one or more illumination sources;
a channel in thermal contact with the one or more illumination sources through which a cooling material is passed to remove heat generated by the one or more illumination sources;
an image sensor;
a lens assembly; and
a recess into which the lens assembly is fitted and aligned with the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An endoscope for use in imaging an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;
means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for allowing the distal end of the shaft to be directed in a desired direction;
imaging means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for illuminating the body cavity and producing image signals that are representative of the body cavity, the imaging means including means for receiving an externally generated clocking signal used to transmit the image signals serially to a remotely located camera card; and
means for selectively coupling the proximal end of the shaft to a control cabinet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An imaging system for use with a medical device having a distal end that is inserted into a patient, and a proximal end that remains outside of the patient, comprising:
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an imaging assembly at or adjacent the distal end of the medical device, the imaging assembly including;
one or more illumination light sources;
an image sensor that produces image signals representative of a scene illuminated by the illumination light source; and
a serializer that serially transmits the image signals to a remotely located camera card; and
a receiver that receives an externally generated clock signal for the serializer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An endoscope comprising:
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a flexible elongate shaft having a distal end that is inserted into a patient and a proximal end that remains outside the patient;
a mechanism for selectively orienting the distal end of the endoscope; and
an illumination source at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft that produces a flashing light so that the distal end of the shaft can be seen through the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for producing images of an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate medical device having a distal end that is inserted into the patient;
an illumination source that produces illumination light at the distal end of the elongate medical device;
an image sensor for producing image signals representative of tissue illuminated by the illumination light;
a display on which images produced from the image signals are displayed; and
a controller for pulsing the illumination source to produce a flashing illumination and for creating a flicker-free display during the pulsing of the illumination source in order to see the distal end of the medical device through the patient'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification