ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING A VARIABLE STATE OPTICAL MEMBER
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
a variable state optical member coupled within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the variable state optical member having a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration; and
an imager disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the imager being configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue distal to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the first configuration, and wherein the imager is further configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue lateral to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the second configuration.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A variable state optical member may be coupled within the distal end portion of the elongate member. The variable state optical member may include a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration. An imager may be disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member. The imager may be configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue distal to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the first configuration. The imager may be also configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue lateral to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the second configuration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; a variable state optical member coupled within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the variable state optical member having a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration; and an imager disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the imager being configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue distal to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the first configuration, and wherein the imager is further configured to produce an imaging signal associated with a tissue lateral to the elongate member when the variable state optical member is in the second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the elongate member being configured to be inserted into a patient and defining a distal aperture and a side aperture; a first variable state optical member coupled within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the first variable state optical member having a first configuration and a second configuration different than the first configuration and configured to reflect optical energy from the distal aperture when the first variable state optical member is in its first configuration; and a second variable state optical member coupled within the distal end portion of the elongate member, the second variable state optical member having a first configuration and a second configuration different than the first configuration and configured to pass through optical energy from the side aperture when the second variable state optical member is in its second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising:
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sending an imaging signal associated with a tissue distal to an elongate medical device while a variable state optical member of the elongate medical device is in a first configuration; changing the variable state optical member from the first configuration to a second configuration after sending the imaging signal while the variable state optical member is in the first configuration; and sending an imaging signal associated with a tissue lateral to the elongate medical device while the variable state optical member is in the second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification