Optical system

• US 6,934,093 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kislev, Hanoch, Iddan, Gavriel J., Meron, Gavriel, Glukhovsky, Arkady
• Primary Examiner(s): MACK, RICKY LEVERN
• Application Number:
  US10/879,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 359/708, 359/709, 359/727, 359/728, 359710-712, 348/65, 348/76, 455/100, 600/109, 600/160, 600/176, 600/177
• US Class Current: 359/708
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/00 Systems with reflecting surfaces, with or without refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2407 Optical details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical system for illuminating and viewing a target in which an illumination element and a receiving means are disposed behind a single optical window, and which obtains data essentially free of backscatter and stray light. The optical window of the optical system is configured such that it defines a shape having at least one focal curve, i.e., an ellipsoid shaped dome. The illumination element and the receiving means are geometrically positioned on the focal curve plane or in proximity of the focal curve plane, such that, when illuminating, rays from the illumination elements, that are internally reflected from the optical window, will not be incident on the receiving means.

Claims

1. An in-vivo device comprising:

an optical dome having a semi-reflective surface;

an illumination element positioned behind the optical dome; and

an imaging device positioned behind the optical dome;

the optical dome being configured so that light produced by the illumination element which is reflected by the optical dome is not reflected to the imaging device.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a transmitter.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a swallowable capsule.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the optical dome defines a focal curve, and wherein the illumination element is positioned on the focal curve.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the optical dome defines a focal curve, and wherein the imaging device is not positioned on the focal curve.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the shape defined by the optical dome is an ellipsoid.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is an endoscope.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes an axis of symmetry, and wherein the illumination element is positioned on a focal plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry, and wherein the imaging device is positioned on the axis of symmetry.

9. An autonomous in-vivo device comprising:

a camera;

an illumination element; and

a window having a semi-reflective surface, and covering the camera and the illumination element, wherein light emitted by the illumination element and reflected by the window is not reflected to the camera.

10. The device of claim 9 comprising a transmitter.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is a capsule.

12. The device according to claim 9 wherein the window defines focal curve, and wherein the illumination element is positioned on the focal curve.

13. The device according to claim 9 wherein the window defines focal curve, and wherein the camera is not positioned on the focal curve.