Endoscopic diagnostic systems and associated methods employing infrared radiation
First Claim
1. An endoscope system, having distal and proximal ends, for use in imaging infrared radiation from interior structures at wavelengths greater than 2 micrometers, said endoscope system comprising:
- a refractive objective lens for forming a real image of radiation emitted from an interior structure of interest in an image plane;
at least one relay section consisting solely of refracting elements for transferring said real image to form an intermediate image in a conjugate plane located near said proximal end of said system;
an aperture stop for said endoscope system; and
a refracting coupling lens, located near said proximal end of said system, for forming a final image of said intermediate image in a detector plane located at the proximal end of said system, said refractive objective lens, relay section, and refracting coupling lens all being fabricated of materials that are transmissive at least at 2.0 micrometers and above.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Endodiagnostic apparatus and methods by which infrared emissions within the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be visualized in the form of encoded images to permit differential analysis. The endoseopic apparatus comprises a refractive objective lens for forming a real image of interior structure of interest, a relay system consisting solely of refracting elements for transferring the real image to an intermediate image plane conjugate to the objective image plane, and a refracting coupling lens for forming a final image of the intermediate image in a detector plane in which an IR detector sensitive in the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be placed near the proximal end of the apparatus.
33 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An endoscope system, having distal and proximal ends, for use in imaging infrared radiation from interior structures at wavelengths greater than 2 micrometers, said endoscope system comprising:
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a refractive objective lens for forming a real image of radiation emitted from an interior structure of interest in an image plane; at least one relay section consisting solely of refracting elements for transferring said real image to form an intermediate image in a conjugate plane located near said proximal end of said system; an aperture stop for said endoscope system; and a refracting coupling lens, located near said proximal end of said system, for forming a final image of said intermediate image in a detector plane located at the proximal end of said system, said refractive objective lens, relay section, and refracting coupling lens all being fabricated of materials that are transmissive at least at 2.0 micrometers and above. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification