Tip structure for variable direction of view endoscope

• US 7,374,533 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: KARL Storz Development Corp.
• Inventors: Hoeg, Hans David, Hale, Eric Lawrence, Schara, Nathan Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P.
• Application Number:
  US11/054,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 600/128, 600/129, 600/30, 600/173
• US Class Current: 600/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles

Abstract

A variable direction of view endoscope generally comprising an endoscope shaft, an objective optical system disposed in the distal end of the shaft that defines a view vector movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a viewing window located in the distal end of the shaft through which the view vector scans over a range of different view vector directions when moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A portion of the distal section of the endoscope shaft adjacent and proximal to the viewing window has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and at least two regions within the cross section are connectable by a straight line that does not lie within or on the boundary of the cross section. In certain embodiments, cross section comprises at least two disjoint closed sets of points.

Claims

1. A variable direction of view endoscope, comprising:

an endoscope shaft having a proximal section, a distance section, an interior defined by an outer wall, and a longitudinal axis; and

a viewing window located in the distal section of said endoscope shaft through which the view vector defined by an objective optical system in the distal section scans over a range of different view vector directions when moved relative to the longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft;

wherein a portion of the distal section of said endoscope shaft adjacent and proximal to said viewing window has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft, wherein at least two regions within said cross section are connectable by a straight line that does not lie within or on the boundary of said cross section and does not lie within the interior of the shaft.

2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein said cross section comprises at least two disjoint closed sets of points.

3. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the view vector has a pivot axis angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft.

4. The endoscope of claim 3, wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the said endoscope shaft.

5. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein said viewing window fits completely within the circumference of said endoscope shaft.

6. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein:

the distal section of said endoscope shaft has a slot defined by a base section and two side sections of said shaft; and

said viewing window is disposed in said slot.

7. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein:

the distal section of said endoscope comprises two prongs; and

said viewing window is disposed between said prongs.

8. A method of obtaining a variable direction of view with an endoscope, comprising:

providing an endoscope shaft having a proximal section, a distal section, an interior defined by an outer wall, and a longitudinal axis;

pivoting a view vector through a viewing window located in the distal section of said endoscope shaft to scan over a range of different view vector directions;

wherein a portion of the distal section of the endoscope shaft adjacent and proximal to the viewing window has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft, wherein at least two regions within the cross section are connectable by a straight line that does not lie within or on the boundary of the cross section and does not lie within the interior of the shaft.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said cross section comprises at least two disjoint closed sets of points.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the view vector is defined by an objective optical system in the distal section of the endoscope shaft.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the view vector has a pivot axis angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of said endoscope shaft.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the said endoscope shaft.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said viewing window fits completely within the circumference said endoscope shaft.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the distal section of said endoscope shaft has a slot defined by a base section and two side sections of said shaft; and

said viewing window is disposed in said slot.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the distal section of said endoscope comprises two prongs; and

said viewing window is disposed between said prongs.