Imaging system and components thereof
First Claim
1. A camera comprising:
- an elongated sheath having an inner surface, the sheath defining a longitudinal axis;
an image sensor having an imaging axis; and
a support, at least partially disposed within the sheath, that supports the image sensor within the sheath such that the image sensor is rotatable about at least two axes of rotation, the image sensor being rotatable about at least one of the axes through a range of orientations including a position greater than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the imaging axis is oriented normal to the inner surface of the sheath throughout at least a portion of the image sensor'"'"'s range of orientations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a camera includes an image sensor, a sheath, and a housing. A first end of the sheath is closed to form a cavity to accommodate the image sensor, and the housing is adapted to mate with a second end of the sheath. One of the housing and the second end of the sheath includes at least one tab, and the other of the housing and the second end of the sheath includes at least one slot, the at least one tab being adapted to mate with the at least one slot when the housing is mated with the second end of the sheath to inhibit the second end of the sheath from rotating with respect to the housing. In another embodiment, a camera includes a sheath, an image sensor, and a support. The support, which is at least partially disposed within the sheath, supports the image sensor within the sheath such that the image sensor is rotatable about at least two axes of rotation with respect to the sheath through a range of orientations, wherein an imaging axis of the image sensor is oriented normal to an inner surface of the sheath throughout the image sensor'"'"'s range of orientations. In another embodiment, a camera includes a sheath, an image sensor, and at least one light. The image sensor and the at least one light are disposed within the sheath, and the at least one light is adapted to generate sufficient heat to prevent condensation from forming on the sheath when the sheath is inserted into a body of a living patient. In addition, an actuation module for use with a camera, a camera module for use in a camera, and a novel bearing ring assembly are disclosed.
163 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A camera comprising:
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an elongated sheath having an inner surface, the sheath defining a longitudinal axis;
an image sensor having an imaging axis; and
a support, at least partially disposed within the sheath, that supports the image sensor within the sheath such that the image sensor is rotatable about at least two axes of rotation, the image sensor being rotatable about at least one of the axes through a range of orientations including a position greater than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the imaging axis is oriented normal to the inner surface of the sheath throughout at least a portion of the image sensor'"'"'s range of orientations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An endoscope, comprising:
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a camera housing;
an image sensor disposed within the camera housing, the image sensor being rotatable about at least two axes of rotation within the camera housing; and
an actuation module removably attached to the camera housing, the actuation module comprising a module base removably mounted to the camera housing, and a pair of actuators mounted to the module base so that the pair of actuators can be removed from and coupled to the camera housing as a single unit, each of the pair of actuators being adapted to rotate the image sensor about a respective one of the at least two axes of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
a camera module base removably mounted to the camera housing;
the image sensor being mounted to the camera module base;
a cable mounted to the camera module base and coupled to the image sensor; and
a signal conditioning circuit mounted to the camera module base and coupled to the cable to receive an electronic signal produced by the image sensor via the cable;
whereby the image sensor, the cable, the signal conditioning circuit, and the camera module base are removable from and attachable to the camera housing as a single unit.
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15. A camera comprising:
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an elongated sheath having an inner surface, the sheath defining a longitudinal axis;
an image sensor having an imaging axis; and
a support, at least partially disposed within the sheath, that supports the image sensor within the sheath such that the image sensor is rotatable about at least two axes of rotation, the image sensor being rotatable about at least one of the axes through a range of orientations including a position up to 165 degrees from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the imaging axis is oriented normal to the inner surface of the sheath throughout at least a portion of the image sensor'"'"'s range of orientations.
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Specification