Endoscope assembly with retroscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope assembly comprising:
- an endoscope with a first image sensor, a first light source, and a first polarizing filter disposed over the first light source; and
a rear-viewing extension extending from the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the extension includes a second image sensor, a second light source, and a second polarizing filter disposed over the second image sensor, wherein the second polarizing filter blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter, and wherein the second image sensor and second light source face the first image sensor and first light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope.
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Abstract
An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end and an imaging device with a steerable extension. The proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end region and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end cap, an imaging device, and a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An endoscope assembly comprising:
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an endoscope with a first image sensor, a first light source, and a first polarizing filter disposed over the first light source; and a rear-viewing extension extending from the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the extension includes a second image sensor, a second light source, and a second polarizing filter disposed over the second image sensor, wherein the second polarizing filter blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter, and wherein the second image sensor and second light source face the first image sensor and first light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An endoscope comprising:
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an insertion tube having a distal end region; a first imaging sensor at the distal end region of the insertion tube, a first light source, and a first polarizing filter disposed over the first light source; and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region, the rear-viewing imaging device including a second image sensor and a second polarizing filter disposed over the second image sensor, wherein the second filter blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter and wherein the second image sensor and second light source face the first imaging sensor and the first light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of viewing a lumen of the body comprising providing simultaneous viewing of images from an endoscope with a first image sensor, a first light source, a first polarizing filter disposed over the first light source, a rear-viewing second image sensor, and a second polarizing filter disposed over the second image sensor, wherein the second polarizing filter blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter, and wherein the second image sensor and the second light source face the first image sensor and first light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope.
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27. An endoscope assembly comprising:
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an endoscope with a first image sensor and a first light source; a rear-viewing extension extending from the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the rear-viewing extension includes a second image sensor and second light source, wherein at least one of the first and second image sensors includes a first polarizing filter and at least one of the first and second light sources includes a second polarizing filter, wherein second polarizing filter blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter, and wherein the second image sensor and second light source face the first image sensor and first light source; and wherein the first and second image sensors and the light sources are turned on and off alternately to reduce or eliminate light interference, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An endoscope assembly comprising:
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an endoscope with a first image sensor and a first light source; a rear-viewing extension extending from the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the rear-viewing extension includes a second image sensor and a second light source and wherein the second image sensor and second light source face the first image sensor and first light source, wherein the first image sensor and first light source are covered by a first set of polarizing filters of the same orientation, and wherein the second image sensor and second light source are covered by a second set of polarizing filters, wherein the second set of polarizing filters blocks light that is transmitted through the first set of polarizing filters, wherein the first and second sets of polarizing filters are configured to reduce light interference between the first image sensor and the second light source and between the second image sensor and the first light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope.
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30. An endoscope assembly comprising:
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an endoscope with a first image sensor and a first light source; a rear-viewing extension extending from the distal end of the endoscope, wherein the rear-viewing extension includes a second image sensor and a second secondary light source, wherein the second image sensor and the second light source face the first image sensor and first light source; wherein only one of the image sensors is covered by a first polarizing filter, and only the other light source is covered by a second polarizing filter that blocks light that is transmitted through the first polarizing filter, wherein the first and second polarizing filters are configured to reduce light interference between the one of the image sensors and the other light source, wherein the rear-viewing extension is advanceable with respect to the distal end in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope
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Specification