Miniature endoscope with imaging fiber system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of imaging an orthopedic region within a patient comprising:
- connecting a removable sheath to a handle that is attached to a fiber optic imaging probe, the fiber optic imaging probe being adapted to transmit an image from a distal end to a proximal end through a plurality of imaging optical fibers positioned within an imaging tube, the fiber optic imaging probe having a lens system including a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop positioned at the distal end of the imaging tube that couples light into the plurality of imaging optical fibers of the fiber optic imaging probe, the removable sheath being connected to the handle with a mounting mechanism such that the sheath extends over the distal end of the fiber optic imaging probe, the sheath having an outer diameter of less than 2 mm, a distal window and a plurality of illumination optical fibers extending between an inner tube and an outer tube of the removable sheath;
inserting the sheath and the distal end of the probe through a cannula into the orthopedic region of the patient;
illuminating the orthopedic region of the patient with light transmitted through the plurality of illumination optical fibers positioned around the fiber optic imaging probe; and
detecting an image with an imaging device in the handle, the imaging device being optically coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic imaging probe.
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Abstract
An endoscope has a fiber optic waveguide that transmits an image from a distal end to a proximal end, the waveguide having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm. A lens system is positioned at the distal end of the fiber optic waveguide. An imaging device is optically coupled to the proximal end of fiber optic waveguide. A disposable sheath extends about the fiber optic waveguide to provide a sterile barrier, and in a preferred embodiment the sheath includes an illumination channel. In a preferred embodiment, the lens system has a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method of imaging an orthopedic region within a patient comprising:
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connecting a removable sheath to a handle that is attached to a fiber optic imaging probe, the fiber optic imaging probe being adapted to transmit an image from a distal end to a proximal end through a plurality of imaging optical fibers positioned within an imaging tube, the fiber optic imaging probe having a lens system including a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop positioned at the distal end of the imaging tube that couples light into the plurality of imaging optical fibers of the fiber optic imaging probe, the removable sheath being connected to the handle with a mounting mechanism such that the sheath extends over the distal end of the fiber optic imaging probe, the sheath having an outer diameter of less than 2 mm, a distal window and a plurality of illumination optical fibers extending between an inner tube and an outer tube of the removable sheath; inserting the sheath and the distal end of the probe through a cannula into the orthopedic region of the patient; illuminating the orthopedic region of the patient with light transmitted through the plurality of illumination optical fibers positioned around the fiber optic imaging probe; and detecting an image with an imaging device in the handle, the imaging device being optically coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic imaging probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of imaging an orthopedic region within a patient using an endoscope inserted through a cannula, the endoscope being attached to a removable sheath having a diameter of less than 2 mm for insertion through the cannula, the method comprising:
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connecting a removable sheath to a handle that is attached to a fiber optic imaging probe that transmits an image from a distal end to a proximal end through a plurality of imaging optical fibers positioned within an imaging tube, the fiber optic imaging probe having a lens system including a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop positioned at the distal end of the fiber optic imaging probe that couples light into a plurality of imaging fibers of the fiber optic imaging probe, the removable sheath being connected to the handle with a mounting mechanism such that the sheath extends over the distal end of the fiber optic imaging probe, the removable sheath having an outer tube with a diameter of less than 2 mm, a distal window and a plurality of illumination optical fibers that are optically coupled to a light source with an optical fiber connector in the handle; inserting the sheath and the fiber optic imaging probe into the orthopedic region of the patient; illuminating the orthopedic region of the patient with light transmitted through the plurality of illumination optical fibers positioned within an annular cavity between the outer tube and an inner tube of the sheath, the plurality of optical fibers filling the annular cavity to provide an annular illumination channel around the fiber optic imaging probe; detecting an image with an imaging device in the handle, the imaging device being optically coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic imaging probe; removing the sheath and probe from the patient; and removing the sheath from the fiber optic imaging probe. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of performing diagnostic orthopedic imaging of a patient comprising:
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connecting a removable sheath to a handle that is attached to a fiber optic imaging probe such that an image can be transmitted through a plurality of imaging fibers extending within an imaging tube from a distal end to a proximal end, the image being collected through an achromatic lens system including a first lens element, a second lens element and an aperture stop that are optically coupled to the plurality of imaging optical fibers in the probe, the removable sheath having an outer diameter of less than 2 mm and that is connected to the handle with a mounting mechanism, the removable sheath having a distal window to seal the distal end of the fiber optic imaging probe within the sheath; inserting the fiber optic imaging probe and the attached sheath through a cannula and into an orthopedic site of the patient; illuminating a portion of the orthopedic site with light directed through a plurality of illumination optical fibers extending within an annular cavity between an outer tube and inner tube of the sheath to provide an annular illumination channel within the sheath and around the imaging optical fibers; and detecting an image with an imaging device in the handle, the imaging device being optically coupled to the proximal end of the fiber optic probe. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification