MULTI-VIEW ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for viewing the inside surface of a lumen, said system comprising:
- an imaging device directed along said lumen;
a partially reflective mirror disposed distal to said imaging device such that it reflects into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said mirror, and transmits into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen distal to said mirror;
a first illuminating system for illuminating said inside surface of said lumen proximally to said partially reflecting mirror; and
a second illuminating system for illuminating said inside surface of said lumen distally to said partially reflecting mirror,wherein said first illuminating system and said second illuminating system can be separately activated, such that images of said inside surface of said lumen proximally and distally to said mirror can be obtained with said imaging device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Endoscopic illumination and imaging systems for enabling observation of both the forward and rearward directions in a lumen using only a single imaging device. According to one implementation, the system utilizes the effects of a partially reflective mirror to respectively transmit and reflect light from the different portions of the lumen or cavity, and uses separate groups of illumination sources to illuminate one or the other section of the lumen, such that the illuminated section is preferentially imaged by virtue of its increased light level. In a second implementation, electrically switched mirrors are used, having properties switched between a transmissive and a partially reflective state, such that the mirror can be switched between imaging the regions forward of the camera when in a transmissive state, and imaging the regions rearward of the camera when in a reflective state. A mechanically swiveled mirror is described for the same purpose.
74 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A system for viewing the inside surface of a lumen, said system comprising:
-
an imaging device directed along said lumen; a partially reflective mirror disposed distal to said imaging device such that it reflects into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said mirror, and transmits into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen distal to said mirror; a first illuminating system for illuminating said inside surface of said lumen proximally to said partially reflecting mirror; and a second illuminating system for illuminating said inside surface of said lumen distally to said partially reflecting mirror, wherein said first illuminating system and said second illuminating system can be separately activated, such that images of said inside surface of said lumen proximally and distally to said mirror can be obtained with said imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. (canceled)
-
7. A system for viewing the inside surface of a lumen, said system comprising:
-
an imaging device directed along said lumen; and a mirror, constructive and operative to have either a reflective or a transmissive status, said mirror being disposed distal to said imaging device such when in its reflective status, it reflects into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said mirror, and when in its transmissive status, it transmits into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen distal to said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10)
-
-
9. (canceled)
-
11. (canceled)
-
12. A system for viewing the inside surface of a lumen, said system comprising:
-
an imaging device directed along said lumen; and a mirror disposed distal to said imaging device, said mirror comprising a central aperture, and being mutually movable in a direction along said lumen, such that when said imaging device is disposed at a predetermined distance from said mirror, said imaging device images said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said mirror, and when said imaging device is disposed close to said mirror, said imaging device images, through said aperture, said inside surface of said lumen distal to said mirror. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14-16. -16. (canceled)
-
17. A system for viewing the inside surface of a lumen, said system comprising:
-
an imaging device directed along said lumen; a first mirror disposed distal to said imaging device, such that it reflects into said imaging device light from said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said first mirror; and a second mirror having a ring shape, disposed proximal to said first mirror, and with its reflecting surface directed in a distal direction such that it reflects into said first mirror light from said inside surface of said lumen proximal to said first mirror, which light said first mirror then reflects into said imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
- 22. A head for illuminating the inside surfaces of a lumen, said head comprising a plurality of illumination sources directed towards said inside surfaces of said lumen, said sources being arranged around said head at different angular locations, wherein the power supplied to at least some of said sources can be varied in accordance with the radial position of said head within said lumen, such that the uniformity of illumination on said inside surfaces of said lumen can be maintained independently of the radial position of said head within said lumen.
-
27. An endoscopic head for viewing the internal walls of a lumen, said head comprising:
-
an imaging device and a working channel adjacent thereto; and an inflatable balloon attached to an inflation tube threaded through said working channel, wherein said inflatable balloon is constructed of an optically reflective material, such that when said balloon is projected from the distal end of said working channel and inflated, it reflects images of said internal walls of said lumen proximal to said balloon into said imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
Specification