Air vent for camera adaptor

• US 4,851,866 A
• Filed: 07/01/1988
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated Skaneateles Falls New York
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Pileski, Michael J., Ciarlei, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATHEWS, ALAN A
• Application Number:
  US07/214,312
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 354/62, 128/4, 128/5, 128/6, 128/7, 128/8, 358/98, 350/588
• US Class Current: 348/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes

Abstract

An adaptor for coupling an endoscopic probe to a video processor for displaying a picture of a target upon a viewing screen. The probe contains an optical element at its proximal end for providing an image of the target. A camming mechanism is used to secure the proximal end of the probe in one end of the adaptor housing. A small camera having a solid state in an insertion barrel is attached to the adaptor housing by sliding the lens barrel into a receiving opening formed in the opposite end of the housing. A chamber separates the distal end of the lens barrel and the proximal end of the probe. The targeted image presented by the optical element of the probe is recorded upon an imager mounted in the camera lens barrel and transmitted to the processor for viewing on the screen. The lens barrel is held within the adaptor housing by a detent mechanism having a ball that engages a groove formed in the lens barrel. A hollow stud having an axial bore is threaded into the adaptor housing so that the stud passes into the ball seat. A spring is contained within the bore which urges the ball into engagement with the lens barrel. An air passage connects the bore of the stud with the chamber separating the camera lens barrel and the probe whereby any moisture accumulating within the chamber is drawn out of the adaptor housing by applying suction to the stud.

Claims

1. An adaptor for connecting a probe having an optical read-out element at the proximal end thereof to the cylindrical lens barrel of a video camera, said adaptor including a housing having locking means for engaging the proximal end of the probe and an opening for slidably receiving the lens barrel of the camera so that a chamber separates the optical read-out element of the probe and the distal end of the lens barrel, a detent means that contains a ball mounted in a seat formed in said housing, said ball being arranged to engage the lens barrel, a hollow member mounted in said housing, said member having an axial bore and a distal end that passes into said seat and a proximal end that protrudes outwardly from the housing, spring means mounted in said bore that acts upon said ball to urge said ball into said seat, an air passage formed in the housing for connecting the chamber and the bore formed in said member so that moisture formed in the chamber can be drawn out of the housing through said member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow member is a stud that is threadably received within said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ball is adapted to ride in a groove formed in the camera lens barrel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air passage passes through the seat formed in the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said biasing means is a spring which is mounted within an expanded chamber formed in said stud.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes cam-actuated tabs for releasably engaging the proximal end of a probe.