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

• US 6,692,432 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: East Giant Limited
• Original Assignee: East Giant Limited
• Inventors: Devos, Todd, Handelin, Gary, Yarush, Don, Sosa, Martin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/690,095
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 600/112, 600/110, 600/109, 600/179, 600/127, 600/130, 600/131, 600/167, 600/182, 600/160, 600/178, 600/452, 600/558, 348/65, 348/68, 348/66, 348/70, 348/71, 348/77, 348/79, 348/80, 433/29, 433/30
• US Class Current: 600/179
• 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 fiber-optic 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, said lens means having optical fibers configured to transmit light from the light source means to the object so as to illuminate the object;

power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to said light source means and said video imaging means; and

a housing configured to house the light source means, the video imaging means, the proximal end of the lens means, and the power supply means within the housing, such that the apparatus is self-contained,

wherein the lens means is optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source means; and

further comprising

a sleeve mounted on the proximal end of the lens means and a portion of the light source means such that the sleeve tightly fits about (i) an exterior surface of the proximal end of the lens means and (ii) an exterior surface of a portion of the light source means such that the light source is in a fixed relationship with respect to the proximal end of the lens means.

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

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a transmitter electrically coupled to the video imaging means and mounted within a housing so as to transmit video signals from within the housing.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the power supply means supplies less than about 12 volts of electrical power to the light source means.

5. 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.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source means comprises a flashlight bulb having a wattage of about 1.4 Watts.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a low wattage light source and includes a light bulb having a wattage in the range of about 0.5 Watts to 5 Watts;

and wherein the housing comprises a single housing configured to house the light source, the video imaging, the proximal end of the lens means, and the power supply within the housing, such that the apparatus is self-contained.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a single housing houses the light source means, a proximal portion of the lens means, and the entire video imaging means within an interior cavity of the single housing, the housing having an opening therein, the opening receiving the lens means therein and further comprising a transmitter electrically coupled to the video imaging means, the transmitter configured to transmit video signals generated by the video imaging means, the transmitter being enclosed within the housing such that transmission of video signals occurs in a convenient, cordless manner.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is battery operated.

8. A portable, hand-held fiber-optic apparatus for producing video images of an object, the portable, hand held apparatus, comprising:

low wattage 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, said lens means having optical fibers configured to transmit light from the light source means to the object so as to illuminate the object;

power supply means electrically coupled to, and for supplying electrical power to said light source means and said video imaging means, wherein the low wattage light source means includes a light bulb having a wattage in the range of about 0.5 Watts to 5 Watts; and

a single housing configured to house the light source means, the video imaging means, the proximal end of the lens means, and the power supply means within the housing, such that the apparatus is self-contained;

wherein the distal end of the light source means abuts the proximal end of the lens means.

11. A self-contained, portable, hand-held fiber-optic apparatus for producing video images of an object, the portable, hand held apparatus, comprising:

a light source configured to produce light for illumination of the object;

a video imaging system for generating a video signal of the object;

a lens system having a proximal end and a distal end, said lens system being optically coupled at its proximal end to the video imaging system, the lens system configured to translate an image of said object from the distal end of said lens system to the video imaging system, said lens system having optical fibers configured to transmit light from the light source to the object so as to illuminate the object; and

a power supply electrically coupled to, and configured to supply electrical power to said light source and said video imaging system; and

a hand-held housing configured to house the light source, the video imaging system, and the proximal end of the lens system,

wherein the lens system is optically coupled at its proximal end to the light source and further comprising a sleeve mounted on the proximal end of the lens system and a portion of the light source such that the sleeve fits about (i) an exterior surface of the proximal end of the lens system and (ii) an exterior surface of a portion of the light source such that the light source is in a fixed relationship with respect to the proximal end of the lens system.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a housing for housing the power supply.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a transmitter, electrically coupled to the video imaging system, for transmitting video signals generated by said video imaging system.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a single, hand-held housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the housing configured to enclose, within the interior thereof, the light source, the entire video imaging system, and the proximal end of the lens system, wherein the housing has an opening therein, the opening being configured to receive the lens means;

wherein the apparatus is capable of being held and operated with only a single hand of a user.