Disposable attachable light source unit for an endoscope

• US 20060173245A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Todd, Erik F.D., Hamel, Andrew J., Ertas, Hasan
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

An LED based light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system produces illumination for a camera through an endoscope. The light source unit includes an array of LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate, a light guide to collect light emitted from the LEDs and to couple the light into a group of optical fibers within the endoscope, and an interface to allow the light source unit to be removably attached to the endoscope at the endoscope'"'"'s external light port. The LEDs therein may be overdriven by power for increased light output. When the LEDs reach their lifetime, the light source unit can be discarded.

Claims

1. A light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system, comprising:

a substrate;

an array of light-emitting elements mounted to the substrate, to produce illumination through an endoscope for a camera;

an interface to allow the light source unit to be removably mounted to an external light port of the endoscope; and

a light guide to collect light emitted from the light-emitting elements and to couple the light to the external light port.

2. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements are LEDs.

3. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a heatsink thermally coupled to the substrate.

4. A light source unit as recited in claim 3, further comprising a peltier device, wherein the heatsink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the peltier device.

5. A light source unit as recited in claim 3, further comprising a heat pipe, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the heat pipe.

6. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a layer of phosphor coated on the light-emitting elements to control spectral content of emitted light from the light-emitting elements.

7. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery to supply power to the light-emitting elements.

8. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a connector to receive power through a cable from the camera to power the light-emitting elements, the endoscope coupled to the camera.

9. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the light-emitting elements are overdriven by power, when operational, to generate light for use by an endoscopic camera.

10. A light source unit as recited in claim 1, wherein the array of light-emitting elements comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements of a first color and a plurality of light-emitting elements of a second color;

and the light source unit further comprises switching circuitry to control a color temperature of light emitted from the light-emitting elements.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an endoscope; and

a light source unit including

a thermally conductive substrate;

an array of LEDs mounted to the substrate, to produce illumination through the endoscope for a camera;

an interface to allow the light source unit to be removably attached to an external light port of the endoscope; and

a light guide to collect light emitted from the LEDs and to couple the light into an optical pathway within the endoscope via the external light port, wherein the optical pathway directs the light to an distal end of the endoscope.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source unit further includes a heatsink thermally coupled to the substrate.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the light source unit further includes a peltier device, and wherein the heatsink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the peltier device.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source unit further includes a heat pipe, and wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the heat pipe.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source unit further includes a layer of phosphor coated on the LEDs to control spectral content of emitted light from the LEDs.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source unit further includes a battery to supply power to the LEDs.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source unit further includes a connector to receive power via a cable from the camera to power the LEDs, the endoscope coupled to the camera.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the LEDs are overdriven by power.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the array of LEDs comprises a plurality of LEDs of a first color and a plurality of LEDs of a second color;

and the light source unit further includes switching circuitry to control a color temperature of light emitted from the LEDs.

20. A light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system comprising:

an array of LEDs, including a plurality of LEDs of a first color and a plurality of LEDs of a second color, to generate light to be detected by an endoscopic camera;

a layer of phosphor coated on the LEDs to control spectral content of emitted light from the LEDs; and

switching circuitry to control a color temperature of the light.

21. A light source unit as recited in claim 20, further comprising

a heatsink;

a heat conduction device mounted to the heatsink; and

a thermally conductive substrate mounted to the heat conduction device, and wherein the LEDs are mounted to the substrate.

22. A light source unit as recited in claim 21, further comprising means for supplying power to the LEDs.

23. A light source unit as recited in claim 20, further comprising a light guide to collect light emitted from the LEDs and to couple the light into an optical pathway within an endoscope, wherein the optical pathway directs the light to a distal end of the endoscope.

24. A light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system, comprising:

a substrate;

a heatsink coupled to the substrate;

a plurality of light emitting elements mounted to the substrate;

an interface to enable the light source unit to be removably attached to an external light port of an endoscope;

a light guide to direct light emitted from the light emitting elements to the external light port; and

a battery to supply power to the light emitting elements.

25. A light source unit as recited in claim 24, wherein the light emitting elements are LEDs.

26. A light source unit as recited in claim 25, further comprising a peltier device, wherein the heatsink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the peltier device.

27. A light source unit as recited in claim 25, further comprising a heat pipe, wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to the substrate via the heat pipe.

28. A light source unit as recited in claim 25, further comprising a layer of phosphor coated on the LEDs to control spectral content of emitted light from the LEDs.

29. A light source unit as recited in claim 25, wherein the array of LEDs comprises a plurality of LEDs of a first color and a plurality of LEDs of a second color;

and the light source unit further comprises switching circuitry to control a color temperature of light emitted from the LEDs.