IMAGING ENDOSCOPE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscopic imaging system, comprising:
- a source of illumination light;
an endoscope having an input optical fiber;
a beam deflection mechanism for directing illumination light received on the input optical fiber over an area of interest, the beam deflection mechanism including at least one mirror that directs the illumination light over a scan line and at least one other mirror that moves the scan line over the area of interest;
an output optical fiber;
one or more lenses that gather reflected light and direct it to the output optical fiber;
a detector that receives light from the output optical fiber;
an image processor/computer coupled to the detector for producing an image of the area of interest; and
a display for displaying the image.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic imaging system includes an endoscope with a beam deflecting mechanism at or adjacent its distal end for directing a beam of illumination light over an area of interest. Reflected light is gathered by one or more lenses and supplied to a light sensor and an image processor/computer that produces an image of the tissue. In one embodiment, the beam deflecting mechanism comprises a pair of mirrors that are oscillated such that light is scanned in a raster pattern over the area of interest.
109 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An endoscopic imaging system, comprising:
-
a source of illumination light; an endoscope having an input optical fiber; a beam deflection mechanism for directing illumination light received on the input optical fiber over an area of interest, the beam deflection mechanism including at least one mirror that directs the illumination light over a scan line and at least one other mirror that moves the scan line over the area of interest; an output optical fiber; one or more lenses that gather reflected light and direct it to the output optical fiber; a detector that receives light from the output optical fiber; an image processor/computer coupled to the detector for producing an image of the area of interest; and a display for displaying the image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A disposable imaging endoscope, comprising:
-
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; at least one optical fiber within the catheter connectable to a light source; an oscillating beam deflection mechanism adjacent the distal end of the catheter for directing light from the light source over an area of interest; one or more lenses at the distal end of the catheter for collecting light reflected from the area of interest; and at least one optical fiber for carrying the collected light to an optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A disposable imaging endoscope, comprising:
-
a catheter having a proximate end and a distal end; means for supplying a beam of illumination light; an oscillating beam deflection mechanism for directing the illumination light over a regular, repeating pattern; one or more lenses for gathering reflected light; and means for delivering the reflected light to a light sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification