Autoclavable video camera for an endoscope

• US 7,852,371 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: St. George, Lawrence, Fan, Tai Lin, Konstorum, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US11/109,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20050267329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 348 65- 76
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• 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 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2446 of the image relay G02B23/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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

Sterilizable electronic video cameras for an endoscope are provided. The electronic video camera comprises an enclosure, a lens cell, a lens cell holder, an image sensor, a motorized focusing system, and switch control. The enclosure comprises a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein. The cover has a window disposed therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling. The lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder. The image sensor is in optical communication with the lens cell and window. The motorized focusing system is adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder controlled by the switch. The switch control is activated external to the enclosure and is hermetically sealed therewith. The lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity.

Claims

1. An electronic video camera for an endoscope, comprising:

an enclosure having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein, the cover having a window therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling;

a lens cell having at least one lens;

a lens cell holder, wherein the lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder;

an image sensor in optical communication with the lens cell and window;

a motorized focusing system adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder; and

switch controls disposed on the enclosure and in electrical communication with the motorized focusing system, the switch controls hermetically sealed with the enclosure, wherein the lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity.

2. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the cavity is defined by a single axial bore, wherein the lens cell holder, the lens cell, the image sensor, and the motorized focusing system are adapted to be disposed within the axial bore.

3. The video camera of claim 2, wherein the housing has a housing proximal end that is closed and a housing distal end that is open, the cover having a cover interior side and a cover external side, the cover defining a stepped annular aperture, the window being hermetically sealed within the stepped annular aperture, the window adapted to be optically transparent, the cover exterior side adapted to optically and mechanically couple with an endoscope.

4. The video camera of claim 3, wherein the window comprises a metalized perimeter adapted for hermetically coupling with the stepped annular aperture to create a hermetic seal with the cover.

8. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the motorized focusing system comprises a motor and associated drive components, the motor being coupled to the lens cell holder and adapted to linearly translate the lens cell within the lens cell holder.

9. The video camera of claim 8, wherein the associated drive components comprise:

a pinion gear having pinion gear teeth;

a lens cell gear having lens cell gear internal threads and lens cell gear external teeth; and

wherein the lens cell has an outer surface comprising lens cell external threads, the pinion gear disposed on a motor drive shaft extending from the motor, the lens cell gear disposed over the lens cell with the lens cell gear internal threads in cooperative engagement with the lens cell external threads, the lens cell gear external teeth in cooperative engagement with the pinion gear teeth such that rotation of the pinion gear will cause the lens cell to move longitudinally in the lens cell holder and in axial alignment with the optical axis.

5. An electronic video camera for an endoscope, comprising:

an enclosure having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein, the cover having a window therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling;

a lens cell having at least one lens;

a lens cell holder, wherein the lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder;

an image sensor in optical communication with the lens cell and window;

a motorized focusing system adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder;

switch controls disposed on the enclosure and in electrical communication with the motorized focusing system, the switch controls hermetically sealed with the enclosure, wherein the lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity;

wherein the cavity is defined by a single axial bore, wherein the lens cell holder, the lens cell, the image sensor, and the motorized focusing system are adapted to be disposed within the axial bore;

wherein the housing has a housing proximal end that is closed and a housing distal end that is open, the cover having a cover interior side and a cover external side, the cover defining a stepped annular aperture, the window being hermetically sealed within the stepped annular aperture, the window adapted to be optically transparent, the cover exterior side adapted to optically and mechanically couple with an endoscope; and

wherein the housing proximal end comprises a cable connector hermetically coupled with the housing and adapted to allow electrical communication therethrough, and wherein the cavity adjacent to the housing proximal end comprises electronic connectors in electrical communication with the cable connector, the motorized focusing system and the image sensor in electrical communication with the electronic connectors.

6. The video camera of claim 5, wherein the electronic connectors are adapted to electrically couple with complementary connectors associated with the associated electronics of the image sensor and the motorized focusing system.

7. The video camera of claim 5, wherein the lens cell further comprises a key depending therefrom, and the lens cell holder further comprises a keyway, the key is adapted to cooperate with the keyway for the retention of rotational alignment of the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder and to limit the range of linear travel there between.

10. A keypad for maintaining a hermetic seal with a housing, comprising a means for sensing finger motion and a means for converting that motion to an electric signal transmitted internal to the housing.

11. The keypad of claim 10, comprising:

a plurality of switch sensors coupled to the housing, the sensors covered with a barrier that is hermetically sealed with the housing.

12. The keypad of claim 11, wherein the switch sensors comprise a multiple dome keypad (MDK) and keypad electrical connectors, the MDK comprises a plurality of flexible membrane elements that are pressure sensitive and respond to finger pressure to close an electrical switch, the MDK is coupled on the housing and hermetically sealed therewith with a flexible membrane barrier, the flexible membrane barrier adapted to allow finger pressure to deform the flexible membrane barrier so as to allow contact with snap buttons, the electrical connectors are adapted to be coupled to associated electronics controlling the motorized focusing system and image sensor.