Electrically isolated sterilizable endoscopic video camera head
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A video camera head adapted for coupling to a remote camera control unit through a cable having a shield, and also adapted for coupling to a separate endoscope, comprising:
- an imager;
image electronics coupled to said imager;
a non-conductive outer housing;
an inner chamber within said outer housing having a conductive portion which substantially encloses said image and imager electronics;
a first element for electrically coupling one end of a signal line in the cable to said image electronics;
an optical element carried by said housing, and situated along an optical path extending through said housing and said inner chamber to said imager;
a second element for electrically coupling the cable shield to said conductive portion of said inner chamber; and
a first O-ring located near the optical element and the housing and a second O-ring located near the cable and the housing to seal any gaps in these respective areas such that said conductive portion of said inner chamber is substantially isolated from electrical contact with a human or a conductive fluid.
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Abstract
A video camera head configured for use with an endoscope and having a conductive inner chamber for shielding the imager and imager electronics from electro-magnetic interference is described in which the inner chamber is substantially isolated from contact by a human or conductive fluid through a sealed outer non-conductive housing. Another aspect of the invention involves hermetically sealing the inner chamber, thus facilitating the use of steam autoclave sterilization, including flash sterilization, to sterilize the camera head.
479 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A video camera head adapted for coupling to a remote camera control unit through a cable having a shield, and also adapted for coupling to a separate endoscope, comprising:
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an imager; image electronics coupled to said imager; a non-conductive outer housing; an inner chamber within said outer housing having a conductive portion which substantially encloses said image and imager electronics; a first element for electrically coupling one end of a signal line in the cable to said image electronics; an optical element carried by said housing, and situated along an optical path extending through said housing and said inner chamber to said imager; a second element for electrically coupling the cable shield to said conductive portion of said inner chamber; and a first O-ring located near the optical element and the housing and a second O-ring located near the cable and the housing to seal any gaps in these respective areas such that said conductive portion of said inner chamber is substantially isolated from electrical contact with a human or a conductive fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 22)
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16. A video camera head adapted for coupling to a remote camera control unit through a cable having a shield, and also adapted for coupling to a separate endoscope, comprising:
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an imager; imager electronics coupled to said imager; a non-conductive outer housing; a hermetically-sealed inner chamber within said outer housing which substantially encloses said imager and imager electronics and which comprises an a conductive portion made of titanium, a window made of sapphire is brazed to a distal end of the conductive portion of the inner chamber through at lest one circular joint, wherein the window is situated along an optical path extending through said housing and said inner chamber to said imager; a first element for electrical coupling one end of a signal line in the cable to said imager electronics; a second element for electrically coupling said cable shield to said conductive portion of said inner chamber; and at least one seal carried by the housing such that said conductive portion of said inner chamber is substantially isolated from electrical contact with a human or a conductive fluid. - View Dependent Claims (17, 19)
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20. A video camera head adapted for coupling to a remote camera control unit through a cable, and also adapted for coupling to a separate endoscope, comprising:
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an imager; imager electronics coupled to said imager; a generally cylindrical non-conductive outer housing having a coaxially aligned first part and second part end releasably engageable through a snap joint for inserting and accessing said imager and imager electronics; an inner chamber within said outer housing which substantially encloses said imager and imager electronics and which comprises an optical element affixed to a conductive portion, wherein the optical element is situated along an optical path extending through said housing and said inner chamber to said imager; a first element for electrically coupling one end of a signal line in said cable to said imager electronics; and at least one seal carried by the housing such that said conductive portion of said inner chamber is substantially isolated from electrical contact with a human or conductive fluid. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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21. A video camera head adapted for coupling to a remote camera control unit through a cable having a shield, and also adapted for coupling to an endoscope, comprising:
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an imager; imager electronics coupled to said imager; a plastic outer housing; an inner chamber within said housing which substantially encloses said imager and imager electronics, wherein said inner chamber comprises a conductive bulkhead welded to a proximal end of a conductive inner housing having a conductive portion, and a window situated along an optical path extending through said housing and inner chamber to said imager, wherein said window is brazed to a distal end of said inner housing through at least one circular joint, and wherein said outer housing comprises a first part and a second part which are releasable engageable through a snap joint; a first element for electrically coupling one end of a signal line in said cable to said imager electronics; a second element for electrically coupling said cable shield to said conductive portion of said inner chamber; at least one seal carried by the housing in order to substantially isolate the conductive portion of said inner chamber form electrical contact with a patient or conductive fluid; and a third element situated entirely within said outer housing for coupling an endoscope to said imager along said optical path.
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Specification