Miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities
First Claim
1. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities for use on a high aspect ratio system, said miniaturized utility device comprising:
- (a) a micro imaging device comprising;
a utility guide supported at the distal end of a high aspect ratio system, said utility guide having a plurality of utility apertures formed therein;
a solid state imaging device carried by said utility guide, said solid state imaging device having an imaging array on a top surface, and a conductive element, said imaging array being electrically coupled to said conductive element;
(b) a lens optically coupled to said imaging array to form a micro camera;
(c) a micro utility instrument operably supported within one of said utility apertures for coordinated operation with said micro camera at a local site, said micro utility instrument configured to perform a designated function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by said micro camera; and
(d) an umbilical carried by at least one of the apertures and comprising a plurality of transfer elements, including a conductive line, for operably connecting said micro camera and said micro utility instrument, said conductive line electrically coupled to said conductive element of said solid state imaging device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities for use on a high aspect ratio system, wherein the miniaturized utility device comprises: (a) a micro camera comprising a solid state micro imaging device including, as an integral structure, an imaging array electrically coupled to a conductive pad, wherein the solid state imaging device further includes at least one utility aperture passing therethrough, and a lens optically coupled to the imaging array; and (b) a micro utility instrument configured for coordinated operation with the imaging device at a common local site, wherein the micro utility instrument is configured to perform a designated function viewable, preferably in real-time, via a camera image generated by the micro camera.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities for use on a high aspect ratio system, said miniaturized utility device comprising:
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(a) a micro imaging device comprising;
a utility guide supported at the distal end of a high aspect ratio system, said utility guide having a plurality of utility apertures formed therein;
a solid state imaging device carried by said utility guide, said solid state imaging device having an imaging array on a top surface, and a conductive element, said imaging array being electrically coupled to said conductive element;
(b) a lens optically coupled to said imaging array to form a micro camera;
(c) a micro utility instrument operably supported within one of said utility apertures for coordinated operation with said micro camera at a local site, said micro utility instrument configured to perform a designated function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by said micro camera; and
(d) an umbilical carried by at least one of the apertures and comprising a plurality of transfer elements, including a conductive line, for operably connecting said micro camera and said micro utility instrument, said conductive line electrically coupled to said conductive element of said solid state imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A miniaturized utility system having integrated optical capabilities for use on a high aspect ratio system, said miniaturized utility system comprising:
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(a) a utility guide supported at a distal end of a first high aspect ratio system, said utility guide having a plurality of utility apertures formed therein;
(b) a solid state imaging device carried by said utility guide, said solid state imaging device comprising;
i) an imaging array on a top surface, and ii) a conductive element on a side surface, said imaging array being electrically coupled to said conductive element;
(c) a lens optically coupled to said imaging array to form a micro camera; and
(d) a micro utility instrument operably supported on a distal end of a second high aspect ratio system configured to interact with said first high aspect ratio system to provide coordinated operation of said micro utility instrument with said micro camera at a local site, said micro utility instrument configured to perform a designated function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by said micro camera. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities for use on a high aspect ratio system, said miniaturized utility device comprising:
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(a) a micro camera comprising;
(i) a solid state micro imaging device including, as an integral structure, an imaging array electrically coupled to a conductive pad, said solid state imaging device further including at least one utility aperture passing therethrough;
(ii) a lens optically coupled to said imaging array; and
(b) a micro utility instrument configured for coordinated operation with said imaging device at a common local site, said micro utility instrument configured to perform a designated function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by said micro camera. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities, comprising:
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(a) a solid state micro imaging device including an imaging array;
(b) a GRIN lens optically coupled to the imaging array of said solid state imaging device to form a micro camera; and
(c) a micro utility instrument configured to perform a utilitarian function concurrent with an imaging function performed by said micro camera at a local site, said utilitarian function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by said micro camera.
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27. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities, comprising:
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(a) multiple imaging arrays supported by a solid state micro imaging device, said solid state imaging device comprising;
i) at least one mountable surface, and ii) a conductive element disposed on said at least one mountable surface, said imaging arrays being electrically coupled to said conductive element;
(b) multiple lenses optically coupled to said multiple imaging arrays, respectively, to form multiple micro cameras on said solid state imaging device; and
(c) at least one micro utility instrument configured to perform a utilitarian function concurrent with an imaging function performed by at least one of said micro cameras at a common local site, said utilitarian function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by at least one of said micro cameras.
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28. A miniaturized utility device having integrated optical capabilities comprising:
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(a) a plurality of solid state micro imaging devices supported along a length of a high aspect ratio system, each of said solid state imaging devices comprising;
i) at least one imaging array disposed on a top surface, and ii) a conductive element on a side surface, said imaging array being electrically coupled to said conductive element;
(b) a plurality of lenses optically coupled to said imaging arrays to form a plurality of micro cameras;
(c) a plurality of micro utility instruments configured for coordinated operation with said micro cameras at a plurality of common local sites, said micro utility instruments configured to perform a designated function viewable in real-time via a camera image generated by each of said micro cameras; and
(d) a plurality of transfer elements for operably connecting said micro cameras and said micro utility instruments.
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29. A method of operating a miniaturized utility device having additional optical capabilities, comprising:
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(a) optically coupling a lens to an imaging array of a solid state micro imaging device to form a micro camera supported on a high aspect ratio system;
(b) defining a plurality of conductive paths, including a path to said imaging device;
(c) powering said solid state imaging device through said conductive path to said imaging device;
(d) positioning a micro utility instrument at a common local site with said micro camera;
(e) coordinating, at said common local site, a performance of a utilitarian function with the operation of said micro camera, said utilitarian function being performed by said micro utility instrument supported by said high aspect ration system;
(f) transmitting a signal from said solid state imaging device through a second of said plurality of conductive paths, said signal corresponding to a captured image of said local site at which said utilitarian function is being performed; and
(g) processing said signal received from said solid state imaging device to form a camera image of said local site.
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30. A method of performing a viewable utilitarian function at one or more local sites within a lumen, said method comprising:
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(a) inserting a high aspect ratio device into a luminal opening, said high aspect ratio system comprising at least one micro camera including a lens optically coupled to an imaging array of a solid state imaging device;
(b) illuminating at least one local site around the lens within or beyond the luminal opening;
(c) receiving light or photon energy in the lens reflected by contents within or beyond the luminal opening, thereby providing focused light or photon energy at the imaging array;
(d) positioning a micro utility instrument at a common local site with said micro camera;
(e) coordinating, at said at least one local site, the performance of a utilitarian function with the operation of said micro camera, said utilitarian function being performed by said micro utility instrument supported by said high aspect ratio system;
(f) converting the focused light or photon energy to digital data, said digital data corresponding to a captured image of said local site at which said utilitarian function is being performed; and
(g) processing said digital data into a camera image of said at least one local site for viewing on a viewing source remote from said micro camera.
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Specification