Endoscope having elevation and azimuth control of camera assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Abstract
A surgical/diagnostic imaging device for use in interabdominal, interthoracic, and other surgical and diagnostic procedures includes an image sensor pivotally mounted at the distal end of a support. In use, the image sensor and support are contained within a disposable sterile sheath, and the distal portion of the sheath is inserted into the patient through an incision. The imaging device includes actuators to move the image sensor in elevation and azimuth.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An endoscope comprising:
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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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2. An endoscope comprising:
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an elongated support shaft having a distal end and a longitudinal axis; an image-sensing device having an imaging and pivotally connected adjacent to the distal end of the elongated support shaft, along an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, thereby allowing said device to pivot and thereby move the imaging axis in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft; elevation means to pivot said device; an elongated sheath within which said device and at least a portion of the support shaft and elevation means are disposed, the sheath having a longitudinal axis 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 and image-sensing device relative to the sheath longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification