ENDOSCOPE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope comprising:
- an insertion tube having a distal end; and
an imaging device including a steerable extension having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube.
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Abstract
An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end and an imaging device with a steerable extension. The proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end region and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end cap, an imaging device, and a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end; and
an imaging device including a steerable extension having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end region; and
a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end region;
a plurality of imaging elements, wherein at least one of the imaging elements is positioned on the distal end of the insertion tube, and wherein at least one of the imaging elements is positioned in the distal end region of the insertion tube behind (proximally) to the first imaging element on the distal region of the insertion tube - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of viewing a lumen of the body comprising providing simultaneous viewing of images from front and rear viewing imaging elements attached to a single insertion tube.
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25. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube;
a main imaging device positioned on a distal end of the insertion tube;
a secondary imaging device; and
an actuator, wherein the actuator extends the secondary imaging device out of, and retracts the secondary imaging device into, the insertion tube, and wherein the extension and retraction of the secondary imaging device adjusts the distance between the main and secondary imaging devices.
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26. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end cap;
an imaging device; and
a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube, wherein the imaging device includes a housing element, and wherein the housing element, link and distal end cap form a unitary unit.
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27. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end cap;
a main imaging device positioned on a distal end of the insertion tube;
a secondary imaging device; and
a link that couples the secondary imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube, wherein the main and secondary imaging devices provide different views of the same area.
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28. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end cap;
a main imaging device including a main light source, the main imaging device being positioned on a distal end of the insertion tube;
a secondary imaging device including a secondary light source; and
a link that couples the secondary imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube, wherein the main and secondary imaging devices and their light sources are turned on and off alternately to reduce or eliminate light interference. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end cap;
a main imaging device including a main light source, the main imaging device being positioned on a distal end of the insertion tube;
a secondary imaging device including a secondary light source; and
a link that couples the secondary imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube, wherein the main imaging device and main light source are covered by a first set of polarizer filters of the same orientation, and wherein the secondary imaging device and secondary light source are covered by a second set of polarizer filters orientated at 90°
relative to the first set of polarizer filters.
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31. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end cap;
a main imaging device including a main light source, the main imaging device being positioned on a distal end of the insertion tube;
a secondary imaging device including a secondary light source; and
a link that couples the secondary imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube, wherein only one of the imaging devices is covered by a first polarizer filter, and only the other light source is covered by a second polarizer filter orientated at 90°
relative to the first polarizer filter.
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Specification