SIDE VIEWING OPTICAL FIBER ENDOSCOPE
First Claim
1. A side-viewing scope for imaging a region inside a body of a patient, comprising:
- (a) an optical fiber extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the optical fiber being configured to couple to an external light source to receive light produced by the external light source and to convey the light toward the distal end of the optical fiber for use in illuminating a region disposed adjacent to the distal end of the optical fiber;
(b) a scanning device that is disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber and coupled thereto, the scanning device having a free end from which light conveyed through the optical fiber is emitted in a first direction, said scanning device only conveying the light that is used to illuminate;
(c) an actuator for providing a driving force to move the free end of the scanning device in a desired pattern;
(d) a reflective surface disposed adjacent to the free end of the scanning device, the reflective surface reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the free end in a second direction that is generally transverse to the first direction, so that at least the portion of the light reflected from the reflective surface is directed towards a side of the scope; and
(e) at least one light detector for detecting light from a region disposed at a side of the scope illuminated by the light reflected from the reflective surface, the at least one light detector producing a signal that is usable to produce an image of the region.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber conveys light from a source at a proximal end, to a distal end, where a piezoelectric material tube applies a force that causes the distal end of the optical fiber to scan in a desired pattern. Light from the distal end of the optical fiber passes through a lens system and is at least partially reflected by a reflective surface toward a side of the scope, to illuminate tissue within a patient'"'"'s body. Light received from the internal tissue is reflected back either to collection optical fibers, which convey the light to proximally disposed optical detectors, or directly toward distal optical detectors. The optical detectors produce electrical signals indicative of an intensity of the light that can be used for producing an image of the internal tissue. The light received from the tissue can be either scattered, polarized, fluorescent, or filtered, depending on the illumination light.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A side-viewing scope for imaging a region inside a body of a patient, comprising:
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(a) an optical fiber extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the optical fiber being configured to couple to an external light source to receive light produced by the external light source and to convey the light toward the distal end of the optical fiber for use in illuminating a region disposed adjacent to the distal end of the optical fiber; (b) a scanning device that is disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber and coupled thereto, the scanning device having a free end from which light conveyed through the optical fiber is emitted in a first direction, said scanning device only conveying the light that is used to illuminate; (c) an actuator for providing a driving force to move the free end of the scanning device in a desired pattern; (d) a reflective surface disposed adjacent to the free end of the scanning device, the reflective surface reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted from the free end in a second direction that is generally transverse to the first direction, so that at least the portion of the light reflected from the reflective surface is directed towards a side of the scope; and (e) at least one light detector for detecting light from a region disposed at a side of the scope illuminated by the light reflected from the reflective surface, the at least one light detector producing a signal that is usable to produce an image of the region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A side-viewing scope for use in scanning a region within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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(a) a flexible optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured to couple to a light source so that light produced by the light source is conveyed through the optical fiber to the distal end of the optical fiber; (b) a resonant scanning device disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber to receive the light conveyed through the optical fiber, the resonant scanning device being driven to move in a desired scan pattern at about a resonant frequency of the optical fiber, while emitting the light; (c) a reflector disposed distally of the resonant scanning device to receive the light emitted by the resonant scanning device and configured to reflect at least a portion of the light received towards a side of the scope for scanning a region disposed at the side; and (d) at least one collection optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being disposed to receive light from the region, conveying the light through the at least one collection optical fiber to the proximal end of the at least one collection optical fiber for processing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. (canceled)
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21. A method for imaging a region disposed at a side of a distal end of a scope that is configured to be introduced into a patient'"'"'s body, comprising the steps of:
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(a) introducing the scope into a patient'"'"'s body; (b) conveying light from an external source through an optical fiber toward the distal end of the scope; (c) moving a free end of a scanning device having a fixed end that is coupled to the optical fiber, so that the free end moves in a desired pattern, emitting light directed generally forward of the optical fiber, the free end of the scanning device only emitting light, and the optical fiber coupled to the scanning device not conveying light from the region; (d) reflecting at least a portion of the light that is emitted from the scanning device in the desired pattern, towards the side of the scope, to illuminate the region; and (e) receiving light from the region at the side of the scope, said light being used to produce an image of the region disposed at the side of the scope. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification