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Endoscope having elevation and azimuth control of camera assembly

  • US 5,762,603 A
  • Filed: 09/16/1997
  • Issued: 06/09/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An endoscope comprising:

  • an elongated support shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal axis;

    an image-sensing device mounted in a camera housing, said device having an imaging axis;

    the camera housing pivotally connected adjacent to the distal end of the elongated support shaft, along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, thereby allowing the camera housing to pivot and thereby move the imaging axis in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft;

    elevation means to pivot the camera housing;

    an elongated sheath within which the camera housing and at least a portion of the support shaft and elevation means are disposed, the sheath having a longitudinal axis which is substantially coincident with the support shaft longitudinal axis; and

    azimuth means for rotating the support shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, thereby rotating the support shaft relative to the sheath longitudinal axis.

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