Imaging assembly with transparent distal cap

• US 7,955,255 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Grigoryants, Sergey S., Fantone, Stephen D., Banik, Michael S., Orband, Daniel G., Churchill, William Lucas, Barbato, Louis J., Maseda, Luis J., Boulais, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker; John P
• Assistant Examiner(s): CANDLER, SAMUEL M
• Application Number:
  US11/407,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/109, 600/117, 600/118, 600128-130, 600/132, 600/154, 600155-160, 600175-179, 600/153
• US Class Current: 600/177
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• 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 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• 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 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence

Abstract

An imaging assembly for use in a medical imaging device such as an endoscope or the like. In one embodiment, the imaging assembly includes a transparent distal cap that is shaped to receive an image sensor insert. The image sensor insert has a cooling channel that supplies a cooling liquid or gas to one or more illumination sources.

Claims

1. An assembly for an imaging medical device, comprising:

a transparent distal cap, said transparent distal cap having a distal face surface with a perimeter surrounding an entirety of the distal face surface; and

an image sensor insert that is fitted within the transparent distal cap, the image sensor insert including;

one or more illumination sources;

a cooling channel for removing heat from the one or more illumination sources;

a cylindrical bore adapted to accommodate one or more imaging lenses; and

an image sensor;

wherein the transparent distal cap includes one or more integral windows positioned in front of the one or more illumination sources, wherein the one or more windows have an edge that extends to the perimeter.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the image sensor insert also includes a thermistor thermally coupled to the one or more illumination sources.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the thermistor is positioned between the one or more illumination sources.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more illumination sources are LEDs.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the image sensor insert includes a flex circuit that delivers current to the LEDs.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the image sensor insert includes a channel positioned over the image sensor insert in which the flex circuit is positioned.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent distal cap is molded of a clear plastic material.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the edge of the transparent distal cap is rounded.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further including a transillumination light source positioned behind the transparent distal cap that produces light to locate a distal tip of the medical device.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the transillumination light source is an LED.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the transillumination LED produces red light.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the image sensor insert is generally semicircular in shape.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent distal cap further includes an opening that serves as an entrance to a working channel and wherein a rim of the transparent distal cap is beveled in the area of the opening.