Endoscope having elevation and azimuth control of camera
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for imaging an inner portion of a body of a living being, comprising steps of:
- (a) inserting into the body at least a portion of a viewing apparatus including a sheath, a rigid elongated support member extending along a longitudinal axis of and movable relative to or removable from the sheath, and an image sensor movably mounted to a portion of the support member and disposed within the sheath; and
(b) moving the image sensor with respect to the portion of the support member and with respect to the sheath so that an imaging axis of the images sensor changes its angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support member and passes through different portions of the sheath.
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Accused Products
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.
121 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for imaging an inner portion of a body of a living being, comprising steps of:
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(a) inserting into the body at least a portion of a viewing apparatus including a sheath, a rigid elongated support member extending along a longitudinal axis of and movable relative to or removable from the sheath, and an image sensor movably mounted to a portion of the support member and disposed within the sheath; and (b) moving the image sensor with respect to the portion of the support member and with respect to the sheath so that an imaging axis of the images sensor changes its angular orientation with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support member and passes through different portions of the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for examining an area within a body of a living being, comprising steps of:
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(a) inserting into the body at least a portion of a viewing apparatus including a sheath, a support member extending along a longitudinal axis of and movable relative to or removable from the sheath, and a solid-state image sensor that is disposed within the sheath, the image sensor being movably mounted to the support member; and (b) pivoting the image sensor about a pivot axis and relative to the sheath so that an imaging axis of the image sensor passes through different portions of the sheath and is incident on different portions of the area within the body to enable the area of the body to be reviewed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification