Hand-held portable endoscopic camera
First Claim
1. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object, the portable, hand held apparatus, comprising:
- light source means for producing light for illumination of the object;
video imaging means for generating a video single of the object;
lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video imaging means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the video imaging means; and
power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means and said video imaging means, wherein the lens means includes a fiber bundle, the light source means includes a bulb, and the bulb is in an abutting relationship with the fiber bundle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable, hand-held endoscopic camera having all of the necessary components for performing endoscopic procedures comprises power source means, lens means, light source means, and video camera means. The portable endoscopic camera is adaptable to a wide variety of systems and includes a highly efficient means for focusing the illumination of the light source. The lens means includes a fiber bundle and the light source means includes a bulb. The bulb is positioned in an abutting relationship with the fiber bundle, thereby focusing light into the fiber bundle. The camera is selectively operable in a cordless and cord-operated mode.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object, the portable, hand held apparatus, comprising:
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light source means for producing light for illumination of the object; video imaging means for generating a video single of the object; lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video imaging means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the video imaging means; and power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means and said video imaging means, wherein the lens means includes a fiber bundle, the light source means includes a bulb, and the bulb is in an abutting relationship with the fiber bundle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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light source means for producing light for illumination of the object; video camera means for generating a video signal of the object, said video camera means comprising a CCD sensor array, and conversion means electrically coupled to said CCD sensor array for converting images impinging upon said CCD sensor array into video signals, and for outputting the converted video signals; lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video camera means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the CCD sensor array; and power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means, and said video camera means, wherein the lens means includes a fiber bundle; the light source means includes a bulb; and the bulb is disposed in an abutting relationship with the fiber bundle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object comprising:
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light source means for producing light for illumination of the object; video camera means for generating a video signal of the object, said video camera means comprising a CCD sensor array, and conversion means electrically coupled to said CCD sensor array for converting images impinging upon said CCD sensor array into video signals, and for outputting the converted video signals; lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video camera means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the CCD sensor array; video monitor display means, electrically coupled to said video camera means, for displaying video images of the object; and power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means, said video camera means, and said video monitor display means; wherein the light source means is disposed directly against the lens means in an abutting relationship and wherein; the light source means includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion intermediate the proximal and distal portions; the lens means comprises a cylindrical collar, the cylindrical collar disposed about the distal portion of the light source means; and the apparatus further comprises a strap and a lid;
whereinthe strap is disposed under the collar and the intermediate portion of the light source means; and the lid is disposed above the collar and the intermediate portion of the light source means;
such that light from the light source means is focused into the lens means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object, the portable, hand held apparatus, comprising:
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light source means for producing light for illumination of the object; video imaging means for generating a video signal of the object; lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video imaging means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the video imaging means; power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means and said video imaging means; and means coupled to a microscope for translating an image within the microscope into the lens means.
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37. A portable, hand-held apparatus for producing video images of an object, the apparatus comprising:
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light source means for producing light for illumination of the object; video camera means for generating a video signal of the object, said video camera means comprising a CCD sensor array, and conversion means electrically coupled to said CCD sensor array for converting images impinging upon said CCD sensor array into video signals, and for outputting the converted video signals; lens means having a distal end and a proximal end, said lens means being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means for translating light from the light source means to the distal end of the lens means and for emitting the translated light from the distal end of the lens means so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens means is positioned adjacent the object, said lens means also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video camera means for translating an image of said object from the distal end of said lens means to the CCD sensor array; power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to, said light source means, and said video camera means; wherein the lens means comprises a lens tube, and a means for optically coupling the lens tube to the video imaging means optically couples a proximal end of the lens tube to the video imaging means, the means for optically coupling the lens tube to the video imaging means comprising a coupling housing having a tubular interior surface, a distal end of the tubular interior surface disposed about a proximal end of the lens tube and a proximal end of the tubular interior surface disposed about the CCD sensor array; and further comprising focusing means, configured to receive the means for optically coupling the lens tube to the video imaging means, for focusing the translated image of the object onto the CCD sensor array by adjusting the distance separating the CCD sensor array and the proximal end of the lens tube, the focusing means comprising; a beam having a horizontal axis; and a pair of support members extending vertically upward with respect to the horizontal axis of the beam from opposing ends of the beam, the beam and the pair of support members defining a U-shaped channel, each support member further including a flange extending outwardly with respect to the U-shaped channel, each flange parallel to the horizontal axis of the beam.
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Specification