Antiglare tip in a sheath for an endoscope
First Claim
1. In an endoscope having a light source and an image viewer at its distal end, a protective sheath covering the distal end of said endoscope, and a tip for said sheath having transparent windows positioned over the light source and the image viewer of said endoscope when said sheath is installed on said endoscope, the improvement comprising an interfitting region positioned between said light source and said image viewer, said interfitting region including a projection from one of said endoscope and said tip and a recess in the other of said tip and endoscope, respectively, mating with said projection, said interfitting region including a light-blocking member that prevents light emitted by said light source from reaching said image viewer, unless it is reflected from objects external to said tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antiglare tip for the sheath of an endoscope to prevent glare in an image viewer is disclosed. The antiglare tip includes an interfitting region with the endoscope to ensure that all light entering the image viewer is reflected from objects external to the endoscope. An opaque projection extends from the endoscope insertion tube between the light source and the image viewer. Opaque recesses in the tip are positioned to mate with the opaque projections extending from the endoscope end. Having mating projections and recesses aligned ensures that no light may pass directly from the light source to the image viewer via the tip. Glare resulting from internal reflections in the tip, or from an inside surface of the tip, is prevented.
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Citations
31 Claims
- 1. In an endoscope having a light source and an image viewer at its distal end, a protective sheath covering the distal end of said endoscope, and a tip for said sheath having transparent windows positioned over the light source and the image viewer of said endoscope when said sheath is installed on said endoscope, the improvement comprising an interfitting region positioned between said light source and said image viewer, said interfitting region including a projection from one of said endoscope and said tip and a recess in the other of said tip and endoscope, respectively, mating with said projection, said interfitting region including a light-blocking member that prevents light emitted by said light source from reaching said image viewer, unless it is reflected from objects external to said tip.
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7. An apparatus for preventing glare in an endoscope image viewer, comprising:
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an endoscope insertion tube having a light source and an image viewer, an end of said endoscope including an opaque projection extending between said light source and said image viewer; a sheath coupled to said endoscope; and a tip coupled to a distal end of said sheath, said tip including transparent members positioned over said light source and said image viewer, a recess positioned to mate with said projection of said endoscope end, and opaque portions extending around the periphery of said transparent members to block light from passing directly from said light source to said image viewer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A sheath having an antiglare tip for coupling to an endoscope, comprising:
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a sheath adapted to be coupled to an endoscope; and a tip coupled to a distal end of said sheath, said tip including a transparent member means adapted to be positioned over a light source of said endoscope and an image viewer of said endoscope, the transparent member means including a transparent member that is recessed and adapted to mate with a projection of said endoscope to prevent light from passing directly through said transparent member from said light source to said image viewer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An endoscope and antiglare tip coupled to the sheath combination, comprising:
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an endoscope insertion tube having a light source and an image viewer, an end of said endoscope including an opaque projection extending from said end and positioned between said light source and said image viewer; a sheath coupled to said endoscope; and a tip coupled to a distal end of said sheath, said tip including transparent members positioned over said light source and said image viewer, a recess in said tip positioned to mate with said projection of said endoscope, said projection extending into said recess to prevent light from passing directly from said light source to said image viewer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for providing an antiglare tip for an endoscope, comprising the steps of:
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providing a single-piece opaque member; forming apertures in said opaque member; inserting transparent members into said apertures, said transparent member being thinner than said opaque member and mounted flush at an outside surface to form recesses on an inside surface of said opaque member; and attaching said opaque member to a sheath to provide a sheath having an antiglare tip. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification