Penetrating endoscope and endoscopic surgical instrument with CMOS image sensor and display

• US 6,387,043 B1
• Filed: 05/12/1999
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/310,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/109, 600/176, 600/129, 600/114, 600/104, 600/106, 600/160, 606/205
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• 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

Abstract

A penetrating endoscope provides visualization of organ or tissue structures or foreign objects in a body. The penetrating endoscope includes an elongate penetrating member, a complementary metal dioxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and an objective lens. The CMOS image sensor is substantially planar and includes a plurality of pixels with a pixel signal processing circuit for generating a color image ready signal. The CMOS image sensor converts image light energy into electrical color image ready signal energy for transmission out of the body. The color image ready signal is viewed on a color image display. The CMOS image sensor is carried on the elongate penetrating member adjacent a distal end of the elongate penetrating member. The objective lens is also carried on the distal end of the elongate penetrating member on an optical axis and focuses an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting the optical axis. The CMOS image sensor is mounted with the CMOS image sensor pixels disposed substantially in the image plane and on the optical axis. The penetrating endoscope may include end effectors such as cutters and forceps.

Claims

1. A penetrating endoscope for providing visualization of organ or tissue structures or foreign objects in the body, comprising:

an elongate penetrating member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a sharp penetrating distal end adapted to be inserted into the body by penetrating anatomical tissue;

a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating a color image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical color image ready signal energy for transmission out of the body, said color image ready signal adapted to be viewed on a color image display;

said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate penetrating member adjacent said elongate penetrating member distal end;

an objective lens carried on said elongate penetrating member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor being mounted with said CMOS image sensor pixels disposed substantially in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

said elongate penetrating member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

2. The penetrating endoscope of claim 1, further including a source of illumination carried by said elongate member and illuminating said endoscope field of view.

3. The penetrating endoscope of claim 1, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

4. The penetrating endoscope of claim 3, said penetrating member having a tip of a selected axial length beyond said image plane, said axial length being substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance, wherein said penetrating member tip is in focus at said image plane.

5. The penetrating endoscope of claim 3, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

6. A penetrating endoscope for viewing anatomical tissue or organ structures or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) an elongate hollow portal sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow portal sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the body;

b) an endoscope comprising

b1) an elongate penetrating member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and an optically clear penetrating distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow portal sleeve lumen,

b2) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said optically clear penetrating distal end;

b3) an objective lens carried on said elongate member optically clear penetrating distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

c) said elongate member being slidably carried in said portal sleeve; and

d) said elongate penetrating member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

7. The penetrating endoscope of claim 6, further including a light source carried by said elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view.

8. The penetrating endoscope of claim 6, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

9. The penetrating endoscope of claim 8, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

10. A penetrating endoscope for viewing while penetrating anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a portal sleeve housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) a handle carried on said portal sleeve housing;

said handle adapted to be grasped and manipulated by hand;

c) an elongate hollow portal sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said portal sleeve housing, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow portal sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the body;

d) a penetrating member having an axially elongate body terminated proximally and carried by a penetrating member housing, and terminated distally in an optically clear penetrating tip, said elongate body extending through at least a portion of said hollow portal sleeve;

e) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate body adjacent said optically clear penetrating distal tip;

f) an objective lens carried on said penetrating member elongate body distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

g) said portal sleeve comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

11. The penetrating endoscope of claim 10, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

12. The penetrating endoscope of claim 10, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

13. A penetrating endoscope for providing visualization while penetrating organ or tissue structures or foreign objects in the body, comprising:

an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a sharp, optically clear distal end for being disposed in the body, said elongate member being adapted to be inserted through a portal in the body;

a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating a color image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical color image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said color image ready signal adapted to be viewed on a color image display;

said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said elongate member optically clear distal end;

an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope filed of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor being mounted with said CMOS image sensor pixels disposed substantially in said image plane and on said optical axis;

a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic filter being disposed on said optical axis; and

said elongate member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

14. The penetrating endoscope of claim 13, further including a source of illumination carried by said penetrating endoscope elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view.

15. The penetrating endoscope of claim 13, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

16. The endoscope of claim 15, further comprising a penetrating tip having a selected length from said image plane to said distal, sharp tip substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance, wherein said tip is in focus, as visualized with said image sensor.

17. A penetrating endoscope for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects, in the body comprising:

a) a portal sleeve housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate hollow portal sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said sleeve housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow portal sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) an elongate penetrating member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and an optically clear penetrating distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow portal sleeve lumen;

c2) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate penetrating member adjacent said optically clear distal end;

c3) an objective lens carried on said elongate penetrating member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said portal sleeve housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit; and

e) said portal sleeve comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

18. The penetrating endoscope of claim 17, further including a repositionable mount affixed to said portal sleeve housing and carrying said image display.

19. The penetrating endoscope of claim 17, wherein said image display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

20. The penetrating endoscope of claim 17, wherein said image display is a plasma display.

21. The penetrating endoscope of claim 17, wherein said image display is a color, solid state, CMOS display.

22. The penetrating endoscope of claim 21, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

23. The penetrating endoscope of claim 17, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

24. A penetrating endoscope for viewing anatomical issue, organs or other objects in the body comprising:

a) a portal sleeve housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate hollow portal sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow portal sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) an elongate penetrating member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by a penetrating member hosing and an optically clear penetrating distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow portal sleeve lumen;

c2) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said optically clear distal end;

c3) an objective lens carried on said elongate penetrating member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said penetrating member housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel processing circuit; and

e) said portal sleeve comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

25. The penetrating endoscope of claim 24, further including a repositionable mount affixed to said penetrating member housing and carrying said image display.

26. The penetrating endoscope of claim 24, wherein said image display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

27. The penetrating endoscope of claim 24, wherein said image display is a plasma display.

28. The penetrating endoscope of claim 24, wherein said image display is a color, solid state, CMOS display.

29. The penetrating endoscope of claim 28, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

30. The penetrating endoscope of claim 24, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

31. The penetrating endoscope for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a portal sleeve housing having an exterior wall enclosing an exterior volume;

b) an elongate tubular portal sleeve having side wall a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a portal sleeve distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said portal sleeve proximal end through said portal sleeve distal end, said elongate hollow portal sleeve being adapted to be inserted into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display;

said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate tubular portal sleeve side wall, adjacent said portal sleeve distal end;

c2) an objective lens carried on said elongate tubular portal sleeve side wall adjacent said portal sleeve distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said portal sleeve housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit; and

e) said portal sleeve having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

32. The penetrating endoscope of claim 31, further including a repositionable mount carrying said image display.

33. The penetrating endoscope of claim 31, wherein said image display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

34. The penetrating endoscope of claim 31, wherein said image display is a plasma display.

35. The penetrating endoscope of claim 31, wherein said image display is a solid state, CMOS color display.

36. The penetrating endoscope of claim 35, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

37. The penetrating endoscope of claim 31, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

38. An endoscope for providing visualization of organ or tissue structures or foreign objects in the body, comprising:

an elongated member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a distal end for being disposed in the body, said elongate member being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating a color image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical color image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body said color image ready signal adapted to be viewed on a color image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said elongate member distal end;

an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor being mounted with said CMOS image sensor pixels disposed substantially in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

said elongate member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

39. The endoscope of claim 38, further including a source of illumination carried by said endoscope elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view.

40. The endoscope of claim 38, further comprising:

at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane; and

a cutting end effector having a selected length substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance.

41. The endoscope of claim 40, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

42. The endoscope of claim 38, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

43. The endoscope of claim 42, further comprising a surgical instrument and effectors having a selected length substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance.

44. The endoscope of claim 42, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

45. A surgical endoscope instrument for viewing anatomical tissue or organ structures or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) an elongate hollow barrel having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

b) an endoscope comprising

b1) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow barrel lumen;

b2) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display;

said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

b3) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

c) said elongate member being slidably carried in said barrel and having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

46. The instrument of claim 45, further comprising a cutter carried on said barrel distal end.

47. The instrument of claim 46, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane;

said cutter having a selected length equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance.

48. The instrument of claim 45, further including a light source carried by said elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view.

49. The instrument of claim 45, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

50. The endoscope of claim 49, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

51. The instrument of claim 49, further comprising a surgical instrument end effector carried by said elongate hollow barrel, said end effector having a selected length being substantially equal to or greater than said endoscope minimum in-focus distance.

52. A surgical endoscopic instrument for viewing and manipulating anatomical tissue or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a distal end for being disposed in the body, said elongate member adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body and having an end effector of a selected length carried on said elongate member distal end;

b) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) a light source carried by said elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view; and

e) said elongate member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

53. The endoscope of claim 52, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

54. The instrument of claim 52, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane, said minimum in-focus distance being less than or substantially equal to said end effector selected length.

55. The instrument of claim 54, wherein said end effector is a cutting instrument for excising, incising or dissecting anatomical tissue or other objects, in the body, comprising first and second opposable cutting jaws hingedly mounted on said elongate member distal end;

said jaws having said selected end effector length.

56. The instrument of claim 54, wherein said end effector is a forceps instrument for viewing and manipulating anatomical tissue or other objects, in the body, comprising first and second opposable forceps jaws hingedly mounted on said elongate member distal end;

said jaws having said selected end effector length.

57. The instrument of claim 56, further including a housing carrying said elongate member proximal end, said housing carrying at least one handle, at least one of said jaws being responsive to handle.

58. An endoscopic forceps instrument for viewing and manipulating anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) at least one articulable handle carried on said housing;

said handle adapted to be grasped and manipulated by hand;

c) an elongate hollow barrel having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through a portal into the body;

d) first and second opposable forceps jaws hingedly mounted on said elongate hollow barrel distal end;

at least one of said forceps jaws being responsive to said handle, said jaws having a selected length;

e) an endoscope comprising

e1) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate member extending through at least apportion of said hollow barrel lumen;

e2) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

e3) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

f) said elongate member being slidably and rotatably carried in said barrel; and

g) said housing comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

59. The endoscopic forceps instrument of claim 58, wherein said first and second opposable jaws are cutting jaws.

60. The endoscopic forceps instrument of claim 58, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic filter being disposed on said optical axis.

61. The instrument of claim 58, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane, said minimum in-focus distance being less than or substantially equal to said forceps jaw selected length.

62. An endoscope for providing visualization of organ or tissue structures or foreign objects in the body, comprising:

an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end for being disposed externally and a distal end for being disposed in the body, said elongate member being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating a color image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical color image ready signal energy,for transmission out of body, said color image ready signal adapted to be viewed on a color image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said elongate member distal end;

an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plan intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor being mounted with said CMOS image sensor pixels disposed substantially in said image plane and on said optical axis;

a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said CMOS image sensor and said objective lends, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis; and

said elongate member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

63. The endoscope of claim 62, further including a source of illumination carried by said endoscope elongate member and illuminating the endoscope field of view.

64. The endoscope of claim 62, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane.

65. The endoscope of claim 64, further comprising a surgical instrument end effector having a selected length substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance.

66. The endoscope of claim 65, wherein said end effector comprises first and second forceps jaws;

said forceps jaws having a length substantially equal to or greater than said minimum in-focus distance.

67. An endoscopic instrument for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate hollow barrel having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow barrel lumen;

c2) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c3) an objective lends carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

d) an image display carried on said housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit, and said housing comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

68. The endoscopic instrument of claim 67, further including a repositionable mount carrying said image display.

70. The endoscopic instrument of claim 68, further including an electrical connector release-ably connecting said image display with said endoscopic pixel signal processing circuit.

71. The endoscopic instrument of claim 67, wherein said image display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

72. The endoscopic instrument of claim 67, wherein said image display is a plasma display.

73. The endoscopic instrument of claim 67, wherein said image display is a color display.

74. The endoscopic instrument of claim 67, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

75. The instrument of claim 67, further comprising a surgical instrument end effector carried by said elongate hollow barrel, said end effector having a selected length.

76. The instrument of claim 75, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane, said minimum in-focus distance being less than or substantially equal to said end effector selected length.

69. An endoscopic instrument for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate hollow barrel having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, said elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, said elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow barrel lumen;

c2) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c3) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit; and

e) a repositionable mount carrying said image display, wherein said repositionable mount comprises a flexible stalk supporting an image display.

77. An endoscopic instrument for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, an elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) a substantially planar first complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c2) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit; and

e) said housing comprising a second CMOS image sensor.

78. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, further including a repositionable mount carrying said image display.

80. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, further including an electrical connector release-ably connecting said image display with said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit.

81. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, wherein said image display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

82. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, wherein said image display is a plasma display.

83. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, wherein said image display is a color display.

84. The endoscopic instrument of claim 77, further including a color mosaic optical filter disposed between said endoscope CMOS image sensor and said objective lens, said color mosaic optical filter being disposed on said optical axis.

85. The instrument of claim 77, further comprising a surgical instrument end effector carried by said elongate hollow barrel, said end effector having a selected length.

86. The instrument of claim 85, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane, said minimum in-focus distance being less than or substantially equal to said end effector selected length.

79. The endoscopic instrument for viewing anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, an [said] elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image ready signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c2) an objective lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis; and

d) an image display carried on said housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit, wherein said repositionable mount comprises a flexible stalk supporting an image display.

87. An endoscopic instrument for viewing of anatomical tissue, organs or other objects in the body, comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior wall enclosing an interior volume;

b) an elongate hollow barrel having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end carried by said housing externally, a distal end for being disposed in the body and an open lumen extending from said proximal end through said distal end, and a cutting end effector having a selected length;

said elongate hollow barrel being adapted to be inserted through a portal into the body;

c) an endoscope comprising

c1) an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end, aid elongate member extending through at least a portion of said hollow barrel lumen;

c2) a substantially planar complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a pixel signal processing circuit generating an image signal, converting image light energy into electrical image ready signal energy, for transmission out of the body, said image ready signal adapted to be viewed on an image display, said CMOS image sensor being carried on said elongate member adjacent said distal end;

c3) an objecting lens carried on said elongate member distal end on an optical axis and focusing an image corresponding to an endoscope field of view at an image plane intersecting said optical axis, said CMOS image sensor pixels being disposed in said image plane and on said optical axis;

d) an image display carried on said housing, said image display receiving and displaying said image ready signal generated by said endoscope pixel signal processing circuit; and

e) said elongate member having an electrical contact on its proximal end in sliding engagement with another electrical contact for transmitting said image signal from the CMOS sensor to the image display.

88. The instrument of claim 87, further including at least one fixed focus objective lens element having a depth of field with a selected minimum in-focus distance for an in-focus image at the image plane, said minimum in-focus distance being less than or substantially equal to said cutting end effector selected length.