REDUCED AREA IMAGING DEVICE INCORPORATED WITHIN ENDOSCOPIC DEVICES

• US 20130144122A1
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Imaging Medical Solutions, LLC (d/b/a Micro-Imaging Solutions LLC)
• Original Assignee: Micro Imaging Medical Solutions, LLC (d/b/a Micro-Imaging Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Adair, Jeffrey L., Wiggins, Kevin Ewing
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000094 extracting biological structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00064 Constructional details of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/002 having rod-lens arrangements A61B1/055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/008 Articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/055 having rod-lens arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 : for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/745 : Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/77 : Pixel circuitry, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/7795 : Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals

Abstract

A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. The imaging device is provided in various configurations, and connections between the imaging device elements and a video display may be achieved by wired or wireless connections. A connector assembly located near the imaging device interconnects the imaging device to an image/power cable extending through the endoscope. The connector provides strain relief and stabilization for electrically interconnecting the imager to the cable. The connector also serves as the structure for anchoring the distal ends of steering wires extending through the body of the endoscopic device. The connector includes a strain relief member mounted over a body of the connector. The connector allows a steering wire capability without enlarging the profile of the distal tip of the endoscopic device.

Claims

1. An endoscopic device including an image sensor for producing images of a surgical site, said device comprising:

a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passageway extending through said tubular portion;

an image sensor positioned in said tubular portion for receiving images of a surgical site, said image sensor producing an image signal, and said image sensor being a CMOS image sensor;

a connector assembly for interconnecting electrical leads of the image sensor to electrical wires of an image/power cable that transmits image signals from the image sensor through the cable to a video device, said connector assembly having a body;

a plurality of electrical traces extending though the gaps of said connector assembly for electrically interconnecting the image sensor to the electrical wires of the image/power cable;

a strain relief cap connected to said connector assembly, said strain relief cap covering at least of portion of said electrical traces extending through said connector assembly;

a plurality of steering wires extending through said tubular portion for steering a distal end of the endoscopic device to position the image sensor, said steering wires having distal ends connected to said strain relief cap and proximal ends extending through said tubular portion; and

a steering assembly attached at a proximal end of said tubular portion for receiving said steering wires and said cable, said steering assembly providing a steering capability to said endoscope through manipulation of said steering wires.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector assembly body includes:

a plurality of transverse extensions and at least one orthogonal center member connecting the lateral extensions, a plurality of gaps formed between each of said lateral extensions, said connector assembly having a proximal end thereof with a smaller width dimension.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said strain relief cap includes a pair of channels secured over opposite lateral sides of said proximal end of said connector assembly, and said steering wires being anchored to a facing surface of said strain relief cap.

4. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of steering wires include four steering wires, said steering wires arranged in a rectangular arrangement and located at corners of the rectangular arrangement.

5. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said image sensor has a frontal profile defined by a length and width dimension, and said strain relief cap being secured to said connector assembly such that the connector assembly and strain relief cap when connected do not extend beyond said frontal profile.

6. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said image/power cable are located radially interior of said steering wires.

7. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said connector assembly further includes a portion thereof attached to said image sensor for mounting of the image sensor to the connector.

8. A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a capsule covers said image sensor at said distal end of said tubular portion, and said capsule has a frontal profile defined by a length and width dimension, and said strain relief cap being secured to said connector assembly such that the connector assembly and strain relief cap when connected do not extend beyond said frontal profile.

9. An endoscopic device including an image sensor for producing images of a surgical site, said device comprising:

a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passageway extending there through;

an image sensor positioned in said tubular portion for receiving images of a surgical site, said image sensor producing an image signal, and said image sensor being a CMOS image sensor;

a connector assembly for interconnecting electrical leads of the image sensor to electrical wires of an image/power cable that transmits image signals from the image sensor through the cable to a video device;

a plurality of electrical traces communicating with the connector assembly for electrically interconnecting the image sensor to the electrical wires of the image/power cable;

a strain relief cap connected to said connector, said strain relief cap covering at least of portion of said electrical traces; and

10. An endoscopic device including an image sensor for producing images of a surgical site, said device comprising:

a plurality of steering wires extending through said tubular portion for steering a distal end of the endoscopic device to position the image sensor, said steering wires having distal ends connected to said strain relief cap and proximal ends extending through said tubular portion endoscopic device including an image sensor for producing images of a surgical site, said device comprising;

a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end, and a central passageway extending through said tubular portion;

an image sensor positioned in said tubular portion for receiving images of a surgical site, said image sensor producing an image signal, and said image sensor being a CMOS image sensor;

a connector assembly for interconnecting electrical leads of the image sensor to electrical wires of an image/power cable that transmits image signals from the image sensor through the cable to a video device, said connector assembly having a body;

a plurality of electrical traces extending though the gaps of said connector assembly for electrically interconnecting the image sensor to the electrical wires of the image/power cable;

a strain relief cap connected to said connector assembly, said strain relief cap covering at least of portion of said electrical traces extending through said connector assembly;

a plurality of steering wires extending through said tubular portion for steering a distal end of the endoscopic device to position the image sensor, said steering wires having distal ends connected to said strain relief cap and proximal ends extending through said tubular portion; and

a steering assembly attached at a proximal end of said tubular portion for receiving said steering wires and said cable, said steering assembly providing a steering capability to said endoscope through manipulation of said steering wires;

said connector assembly body having a plurality of transverse extensions and at least one orthogonal center member connecting the lateral extensions, a plurality of gaps formed between each of said lateral extensions, said connector assembly having a proximal end thereof with a smaller width dimension; and

said strain relief cap includes a pair of channels secured over opposite lateral sides of said proximal end of said connector assembly, and said steering wires being anchored to a facing surface of said strain relief cap.