Endoscope coupler with magnetic focus control
First Claim
1. An endoscope coupler for mechanically and optically coupling an endoscope to a viewing device, said coupler comprising:
- a lens;
a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a peripheral wall disposed about a longitudinal axis and a window permitting light to enter said chamber and said lens;
a lens holder disposed inside said chamber and having a peripheral wall disposed about said longitudinal axis, said lens holder being movable along said longitudinal axis within said chamber and being arranged to cause motion of said lens in said chamber when said lens holder is moved;
driven magnet means supported on said lens holder in said chamber and occupying an angle corresponding to less then ten percent of the peripheral wall of said lens holder;
drive magnet means supported outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to said first driven magnet through a wall of said chamber said drive magnet means occupying an angle less then ten percent of the peripheral wall of said chamber;
a focus control member mechanically linked to said drive magnet means for selectively moving said drive magnet means to thereby move said ferromagnetically coupled driven magnet means longitudinally in said chamber in response to rotation of said focus control member about the longitudinal axis of said chamber;
wherein said ferromagnetic coupling between said drive magnet means and said driven magnetic means occupying said angle opposes both rotation of said lens holder within said chamber and separation of said drive and driven magnet means; and
means for preventing longitudinal movement of said focus control member along said longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope coupler includes a sealed chamber and a lens assembly longitudinally movable within the chamber for focusing an image to be received by a video camera. Spaced permanent drive magnets located exteriorly of the chamber are magnetically coupled with respective permanent driven magnets secured to the lens assembly in the chamber for moving the lens assembly simultaneously with movement of the drive magnets. A focusing ring is rotatable but not longitudinally movable about the chamber and translates the drive magnets and, therefore, the driven magnets and lens assembly longitudinally in response to focusing ring rotation. Frictional retaining rings disposed between the chamber and the focusing ring resist movement of the focusing ring to provide enhanced tactile response when the focusing ring is manually moved by an operator.
89 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An endoscope coupler for mechanically and optically coupling an endoscope to a viewing device, said coupler comprising:
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a lens; a sealed chamber surrounding said lens, said chamber including a peripheral wall disposed about a longitudinal axis and a window permitting light to enter said chamber and said lens; a lens holder disposed inside said chamber and having a peripheral wall disposed about said longitudinal axis, said lens holder being movable along said longitudinal axis within said chamber and being arranged to cause motion of said lens in said chamber when said lens holder is moved; driven magnet means supported on said lens holder in said chamber and occupying an angle corresponding to less then ten percent of the peripheral wall of said lens holder; drive magnet means supported outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to said first driven magnet through a wall of said chamber said drive magnet means occupying an angle less then ten percent of the peripheral wall of said chamber; a focus control member mechanically linked to said drive magnet means for selectively moving said drive magnet means to thereby move said ferromagnetically coupled driven magnet means longitudinally in said chamber in response to rotation of said focus control member about the longitudinal axis of said chamber; wherein said ferromagnetic coupling between said drive magnet means and said driven magnetic means occupying said angle opposes both rotation of said lens holder within said chamber and separation of said drive and driven magnet means; and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said focus control member along said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoscope coupler for mechanically and optically coupling an endoscope to a viewing device, said coupler comprising:
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a lens; a sealed chamber surrounding said lens and having a longitudinal axis, said chamber including a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; a lens holder disposed inside said chamber, said lens holder being movable with respect to said chamber and being arranged to cause motion of said lens in said chamber when said lens holder is moved; at least first and second angularly spaced driven magnets disposed in said chamber and supported on said lens holder at positions angularly spaced about said longitudinal axis; at least first and second drive magnets supported outside said chamber and ferromagnetically coupled to said first and second driven magnets, respectively, through a wall of said chamber; and a focus control member mechanically linked to said first and second drive magnets for selectively moving said drive magnets to thereby move said first and second driven magnets via said ferromagnetic coupling to, in turn, move said lens holder in response to movement of said focus control member; wherein said ferromagnetic couplings between said drive and driven magnets at said angularly spaced positions oppose both rotation of said lens holder within said chamber and separation of said drive and driven magnet means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. The method of providing an adjustable focusing capability in an optical coupler adapted for mechanically and optically coupling an endoscope to a video camera, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) disposing a lens supported by a lens holder in a sealed elongated chamber having a window to permit light to enter said chamber and said lens; (b) securing a plurality of permanent driven magnets to said lens holder within said chamber at respective angularly spaced locations about the longitudinal axis of said chamber; (c) supporting a plurality of drive magnets outside said chamber, each drive magnet being ferromagnetically coupled to a respective driven magnet through a wall of said chamber; (d) permitting rotation of a focus control member about said longitudinal axis while preventing axial movement of said focus control member along said longitudinal axis; (e) in response to said rotation of said focus control member, axially translating said drive magnets along said longitudinal axis; and (f) in response to said axial translation of said drive magnets, moving said driven magnets and said lens holder axially in said chamber solely as a result of the ferromagnetic coupling between said driven magnets and said drive magnets; wherein said ferromagnetic couplings between said drive and driven magnets at said angularly spaced positions oppose both rotation of said lens holder within said chamber and separation of said drive and driven magnet means.
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Specification