Video endoscopic probe with a distal color CCD sensor

• US 6,315,712 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EFER sas
• Original Assignee: Tokendo Sarl
• Inventors: Rovegno, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/426,749
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/110, 600/112, 600/118, 600/131, 600/132, 600/160, 600/182, 600/130, 348/65, 348/71, 348/76
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A video endoscopic probe has a distal terminal utilizing an objective, a color CCD sensor, and an electrical interface microcircuit. The probe utilizes a continuous bundle of optical fibers which is coupled to a light source. The probe also has a video processor coupled to an electrical interface microcircuit. This video processor is adapted to supply and synchronize electrical signals from the color CCD sensor, to process the electrical signal generated by said color CCD sensor, and to produce a video signal. The color video monitor is adapted to receive the video signal produced by the video processor. The probe also has a tubular probe coupled to the distal terminal and a control handle adapted to include the video processor and the color video monitor. A multiconductor electrical is used to couple the video processor to the electrical interface microcircuit. A regulated power supply is also used and is adapted to deliver stabilized direct current voltages for operating the video processor, video monitor, electrical interface microcircuit, and said color CCD sensor. An electrical cable is coupled to the video processor and is adapted to supply a direct current electrical voltage to said power supply. The power supply is adapted to output a direct current supply voltage through the electrical cable which is variable around a nominal value. A cylindrical piece is fixedly coupled to the control handle. The control handle is a hand-held handle having one end arranged to fixedly surround a cylindrical piece and the other end has an interface coupling. The cylindrical piece has a first longitudinal opening, adapted to pass the bundle of optical fibers, and a second longitudinal opening adapted to pass the electrical cable.

Claims

1. A video endoscopic probe comprising:

a distal terminal comprising an objective, a color CCD sensor, and an electrical interface microcircuit;

a continuous bundle of optical fibers having a proximal end coupled to a light source and a distal end located in said distal terminal;

a video processor coupled to said electrical interface microcircuit, wherein said video processor is adapted to supply and synchronize electrical signals from said color CCD sensor, to process the electrical signal generated by said color CCD sensor, and to produce a video signal;

a color video monitor adapted to receive the video signal produced by said video processor;

a tubular probe coupled to said distal terminal;

a control handle adapted to include said video processor and said color video monitor;

said tubular probe comprising a proximal end coupled to said control handle;

a multiconductor electrical cable coupling said video processor to said electrical interface microcircuit;

a regulated power supply adapted to deliver stabilized direct current voltages for operating at least said video processor, said video monitor, said electrical interface microcircuit, and said color CCD sensor;

an electrical cable coupled to said video processor being adapted to supply a direct current electrical voltage to said power supply, wherein said power supply is adapted to output a direct current supply voltage through said electrical cable which is variable around a nominal value;

a cylindrical piece fixedly coupled to a proximal lower part of said control handle;

said control handle comprising a hand-held handle having a distal end arranged to fixedly surround said cylindrical piece and a proximal end comprising an interface coupling; and

said cylindrical piece comprising a first longitudinal opening being adapted to pass said bundle of optical fibers, and a second longitudinal opening being adapted to pass said electrical cable.

2. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, wherein said continuous bundle of optical fibers are adapted to illuminate a target,

wherein said video processor and said color video monitor are integrated in said control handle,

wherein said color video monitor directly receives the video signal from said video processor,

wherein said hand-held handle comprises a cylindrical tubular hand-held handle, and

wherein the nominal voltage is 12 volts and the direct supply voltage varies between approximately 9 and 16 volts.

3. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an umbilical cable having a distal end coupled to said proximal end of the hand-held handle and having a proximal end coupled to a connection device;

said connection device comprising an axial terminal in which said proximal end of said bundle of optical fibers are located, wherein said bundle of fibers are adapted to couple said connection device to said distal terminal;

said axial terminal being plugable into an external light generator;

said connection device comprising a lateral electrical connection coupling that is electrically coupled to a proximal end of said electrical cable, wherein said electrical cable is adapted to couple said connection device to said video processor;

said lateral electrical connection coupling being connectable to an external electrical source.

4. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 3, wherein said umbilical cable is a tubular umbilical cable,

wherein a distal end of said connection device, to which said proximal end of said umbilical cable is coupled, does not include an internal electrical adaptation device,

wherein said bundle of optical fibers run directly and without a break of continuity through said umbilical cable, said hand-held handle, said first longitudinal opening, said control handle, and said tubular probe, and

wherein said electrical cable runs directly and without a break of continuity through said umbilical cable, said hand-held handle, said second longitudinal opening, and said control handle.

5. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a multiconductor cable that includes a coaxial cable, wherein said coaxial cable is coupled to said video processor and is adapted to receive the video signal;

said connection device further comprising a lateral coaxial connection coupling that is electrically coupled to said coaxial cable, wherein said coaxial cable is adapted to couple said connection device to said video processor;

said lateral coaxial connection coupling being connectable to an external video monitor.

6. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 5, wherein said multiconductor cable is adapted to run successively through said umbilical cable, said hand-held handle, said second longitudinal opening, and said control handle.

7. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 3, further comprising a digital microcontroller having an RS 232T interface, said digital microcontroller being adapted to control operation of said video processor;

said multiconductor cable comprising a plurality of conductors coupled to an RS 232T coupling, wherein said RS 232T coupling is coupled to said RS 232T interface;

said connection device further comprising a lateral multipin connection coupling which is electrically coupled to said RS 232T link, wherein said RS 232T link is adapted to couple said connection device to said video processor; and

said lateral multipin connection coupling being couplable to said RS 232T interface, whereby said RS 232T interface is couplable to said RS 232T link.

8. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 7, wherein said multiconductor cable is adapted to run successively through said umbilical cable, said hand-held handle, said second longitudinal opening, and said control handle.

9. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said bundle of optical fibers is mounted within said first longitudinal opening, and said video endoscopic probe further comprises:

a light fixture located within said hand-held handle, said light fixture comprising a reflector adapted to concentrate light radiation emitted by said light source onto said proximal end of said bundle of optical fibers;

said light fixture being adapted to receive a stabilized voltage from a regulated light fixture power supply, wherein said regulated power supply is located within said hand-held handle, and wherein said power supply voltage to said light fixture is the same as that to the video processor; and

said interface coupling comprising a multipin electrical connection coupling that is electrically connected to an internal electrical cable forming a first branch circuit to supply electrical power to said regulated light fixture power supply and a second branch circuit to supply electrical power to said regulated power supply, wherein said second branch circuit is adapted to run successively through said hand-held handle, said second longitudinal opening, and said control handle.

10. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 9, further comprising an internal multiconductor cable;

said multipin electrical connection coupling being adapted to be electrically coupled to said internal multiconductor electrical cable, and said multipin electrical connection comprising an RS 232T link; and

said internal multiconductor cable being arranged to couple said multipin electrical connection coupling to said video processor,

wherein said internal multiconductor cable is adapted to at least one of transmit the video signal generated by said video processor and couple said RS 232T link to said video processor.

11. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 10, wherein said internal multiconductor cable is adapted to run successively through said hand-held handle, said second longitudinal opening, and said control handle, and

wherein said proximal end of said bundle of optical fibers are suitably polished to receive said light radiation.

12. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a digital microcontroller coupled to a panel of operating keys, wherein said digital controller is adapted to control said video processor;

a device for adjusting white balance of the video processor as a function of chromatic characteristics of a video image of the target, which is illuminated by said bundle of optical fibers; and

said panel of operating keys comprising has a special key adapted to automatically lock said white balance adjustment device.

13. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 12, wherein said panel of operating keys are located on said control handle.

14. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, wherein a sensitivity of said video processor is regulatable as a function of a lighting level of the target through an automatic control mode that simultaneously considers a gain of said video processor and an opening of an electronic diaphragm of said distal color CCD sensor, which automatically compensates for great variations in lighting level occurs.

15. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a phase shift device adapted to compensate for transmission delays of said electrical signals traveling through said multiconductor electrical cable;

said phase shift device comprising a delay line acting on a pixel clock generated by said video processor and transmitted to said electrical interface circuit.

16. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 15, said phase shift device further comprising a delay line acting on a clock which synchronizes sampling by said video processor of an incident electrical signal generated by said distal color CCD sensor and transmitted by said multiconductor cable.

17. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a prop device coupled to said tubular probe and to said distal terminal;

said prop device comprising a series of rings, wherein each ring is articulated with its adjacent rings to enable said prop device to be oriented in two perpendicular planes;

two flexible cables, which extend through said tubular probe, being adapted to control translational movements of said prop device in said two perpendicular planes; and

an actuator located within said control handle being coupled to said two flexible cables and being adapted to drive said two flexible cables in respective ones of said two perpendicular planes.

18. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 17, wherein said actuator comprises two mechanical actuators, and

wherein each of the two mechanical actuators coupled to an external control wheel.

19. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 17, wherein said actuator comprises two motorized actuators.

20. The video endoscopic probe in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a joystick adapted to control a starting and rotational direction of said two motorized actuators, wherein said joystick is coupled to said control handle and is adapted for movement with four degrees of freedom.

21. The video endoscope probe in accordance with claim 19, wherein power supply voltages for said two motorized actuators are the same as the power supply voltage of said video processor.

22. A video endoscopic probe comprising:

a distal terminal comprising an objective, a color CCD sensor, and an electrical interface microcircuit;

a continuous bundle of optical fibers coupled to a light source and to said distal terminal;

a video processor coupled to said electrical interface microcircuit;

a color video monitor adapted to receive the video signal produced by said video processor;

a tubular probe coupled to said distal terminal;

a control handle adapted to include said video processor and said color video monitor;

said tubular probe coupled to said control handle;

a multiconductor electrical cable coupling said video processor to said electrical interface microcircuit;

a regulated power supply adapted to deliver stabilized direct current voltages for operating at least said video processor, said video monitor, said electrical interface microcircuit, and said color CCD sensor;

an electrical cable coupled to said video processor being adapted to supply a direct current electrical voltage to said power supply, wherein said power supply is adapted to output a direct current supply voltage through said electrical cable which is variable around a nominal value;

a cylindrical piece fixedly coupled a lower part of said control handle;

said control handle comprising a hand-held handle having a portion arranged to fixedly surround said cylindrical piece and further having an interface coupling; and

said cylindrical piece comprising a first longitudinal opening being adapted to pass said bundle of optical fibers, and a second longitudinal opening being adapted to pass said electrical cable.