Miniaturized imaging device with integrated circuit connector system

• US 7,166,537 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sarcos Investments LC
• Inventors: Marceau, David P., Markus, David T., Jacobsen, Stephen C., Pensel, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lebentritt; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ullah; Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/062,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20050158899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 438/720, 438/948, 438/947
• US Class Current: 438/720
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• 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 miniaturized imaging device and method of viewing small luminal cavities are described. The imaging device can be used as part of a catheter, and can include a lens, an SSID including an imaging array optically coupled to the lens; an umbilical including a conductive line; and an adaptor configured to support the lens and provide electrical communication between the SSID and conductive line. Alternatively, the adaptor can be a rigid adaptor configured to provide electrical communication between the SSID and the conductive line through a conductive path. The conductive path can be configured along multiple contiguous surfaces of the adaptor such that the SSID is electrically coupled to the conductive path at a first surface, and the conductive line is electrically coupled to the conductive path at a second surface.

Claims

1. A method of making an adaptor having a wrap around electrical contact on two contiguous, non-coplanar surfaces of the adapter, comprising:

(a) applying a conductive material layer to an adaptor substrate;

(b) applying a photoresist material layer to the conductive material layer;

(c) developing a portion of the photoresist material layer, such that a first portion of the conductive material layer is exposed, and a second portion of the conductive material layer is protected;

(d) removing the first portion of the conductive material from the adaptor substrate to form a conductive strip residing on two contiguous non-coplanar surfaces of the adaptor substrate; and

(e) removing the adaptor substrate from a working substrate after the first portion of the conductive material is removed from the adaptor substrate.

2. A method as in claim 1, comprising preliminary steps of applying a removable layer to the working substrate, followed by applying the adaptor substrate to the removable layer.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the step of removing the adapter substrate from the working substrate further includes removing the adaptor substrate from the removable layer after the first portion of the conductive material is removed from the adaptor substrate.

4. A method as in claim 2, wherein the step of developing the photoresist a portion of the photoresist material is by applying heat from beneath the working substrate, as well as applying UV light to a portion of the photoresist material that protects the first portion of the conductive material.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the photoresist material is completely removed after the first portion of the conductive material is removed from the adaptor substrate.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the adaptor is less than 500 microns in length, width, and height, respectively.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a

hole through the adaptor substrate, thereby configuring the adaptor to support a lens.

8. A method of making an adaptor having a wrap around electrical contact on two contiguous, non-coplanar surfaces of the adapter, comprising:

(a) coupling an adaptor substrate to a working substrate with a removable layer disposed therebetween;

(b) applying a conductive material layer to the adaptor substrate;

(c) applying a photoresist material layer to the conductive material layer;

(d) developing a portion of the photoresist material layer, such that a first portion of the conductive material layer is exposed, and a second portion of the conductive material layer is protected;

(e) removing the first portion of the conductive material from the adaptor substrate to form a conductive strip residing on two contiguous non-coplanar surfaces of the adaptor substrate; and

(f) separating the adaptor substrate from the working substrate after the first portion of the conductive material is removed from the adaptor substrate.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the step of separating the adapter substrate from the working substrate further includes removing the removable layer from between the working substrate and the adapter substrate.