Hand-held, portable camera for producing video images of an object

• US 6,432,046 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: East Giant Limited
• Original Assignee: University Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Devos, Todd, Handelin, Gary, Yarush, Don, Sosa, Martin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/828,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/127, 600/131, 600/160, 600/167, 600/179, 600/199, 600/200, 600/182, 600/178, 600/452, 600/558, 348/65, 348/66, 348/70, 348/71, 348/77, 348/79, 348/80, 433/29, 359/385, 359/389, 359/387, 385/117, 385/119
• US Class Current: 600/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00108 characterised by self-sufficient functionality for stand-alone use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/247 with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2733 Oesophagoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• 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 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 low wattage light source means. The camera is self-contained. A kit is also provided, the kit having all of the components necessary for performing endoscopic procedures.

Claims

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 signal of the object;

lens means having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens means 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

a sleeve coupled to the proximal end of the lens means and a portion of the light source means wherein a light reflective material is disposed about an exterior surface of the sleeve.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the light source means abuts the proximal end of the lens means.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source means includes a light bulb having a wattage in the range of about 0.5 Watts to about 5 Watts.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is mounted on an exterior surface of the light source means and an exterior surface of the lens means.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is an elastomeric sleeve.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the sleeve surrounds the light source means and a portion of the power supply means is disposed within the sleeve.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the lens means comprises a collar;

and wherein

the collar is disposed about a distal portion of the light source means; and

wherein

the sleeve is disposed about each of;

(i) the collar; and

(ii) a portion of the light source means proximal to the collar such that the light source means is in a fixed relationship with respect to the proximal end of the lens means.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens means is 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.

9. 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 signal of the object;

lens means having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens means 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;

a sleeve coupled to the proximal end of the lens means and a portion of the light source means; and

further comprising probe means configured to fit about an eye, the probe means coupled to the lens means, the probe means having

a neck having a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion; and

a body configured to fit about and eye, the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the body extending outwardly and distally from the intermediate portion of the neck.

10. 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 signal of the object;

lens means having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens means 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

a sleeve coupled to the proximal end of the lens means and a portion of the light source means;

wherein the light source means includes a bulb having a distal center and the lens means comprises a fiber bundle having a proximal center, and wherein the sleeve retains the distal center of the bulb in an abutting relationship with the proximal center of the fiber bundle.

11. 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 signal of the object;

lens means having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens means 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 distal end of the light source means abuts the proximal end of the lens means; and

wherein the light source means includes a bulb; and

wherein the bulb is in abutting relationship with the lens means.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a sleeve coupled in a tight fitting relationship about the proximal end of the lens means and a portion of the light source means such that the light source means is in a fixed relationship with respect to the proximal end of the lens means.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the light source means comprises a light bulb having a wattage in the range of about 0.5 Watts to about 5 Watts.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein

the lens means includes a fiber bundle; and

the bulb is in abutting relationship with the fiber bundle, thereby concentrating light from the light source means into the lens means.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a single housing enclosing the light source means, the entire video imaging means, and a proximal portion of the lens means.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said lens means is 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.

17. 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 signal of the object;

lens means having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens means 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

further comprising probe means configured to fit about an eye, the probe means coupled to the lens means, the probe means having

a neck having a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate portion; and

a body configured to fit about an eye, the body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the body extending outwardly and distally from the intermediate portion of the neck.

18. A portable, hand-held camera apparatus for producing images of an object, the portable, hand held camera apparatus, comprising:

a light source;

a camera assembly;

a lens system having a distal end and a proximal end, the lens system being optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source, the lens system configured to translate light from the light source to the distal end of the lens system and emit the translated light from the distal end of the lens system so as to illuminate the object when the distal end of the lens system is positioned adjacent the object, the lens system also being optically coupled at its proximal end to the camera assembly; and

a power source electrically coupled to the light source and the camera assembly;

wherein the light source includes a bulb, and wherein the bulb is in an abutting relationship with the lens system.