Solid state illumination for endoscopy
First Claim
1. A device for illuminating a body cavity, comprising:
- a bendable elongate tube devoid of fiber light guides, the elongate tube including an internal lumen with an interior diameter extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end;
at least one optically transmissive lens element occluding the entire interior diameter of the internal lumen of the elongate tube;
an image sensor fixed to the elongate tube at a distal portion of the elongate tube proximate the distal end; and
at least one deployable element including a solid-state light source, the at least one deployable element rotatably coupled to the distal portion and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the distal end between an insertion position relative to the elongate tube and a deployed position relative to the elongate tube, such that in the insertion position the solid-state light source is disposed distally relative to the distal end of the elongated tube, and wherein the at least one deployable element is positioned within the profile of the elongate tube in the insertion position, and is positioned outside the profile of the elongate tube in the deployed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for illuminating a body cavity may include an elongate tube, at least one lens element, and at least one deployable element. The elongate tube may include an internal lumen extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end. The at least one lens element may extend substantially across a diameter of the internal lumen of the elongate tube. The at least one deployable element may include a light source. The at least one deployable element may be operably coupled to a region of the elongate tube proximate the distal end and may be configured to be moved between an insertion position and a deployed position.
69 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A device for illuminating a body cavity, comprising:
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a bendable elongate tube devoid of fiber light guides, the elongate tube including an internal lumen with an interior diameter extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end; at least one optically transmissive lens element occluding the entire interior diameter of the internal lumen of the elongate tube; an image sensor fixed to the elongate tube at a distal portion of the elongate tube proximate the distal end; and at least one deployable element including a solid-state light source, the at least one deployable element rotatably coupled to the distal portion and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the distal end between an insertion position relative to the elongate tube and a deployed position relative to the elongate tube, such that in the insertion position the solid-state light source is disposed distally relative to the distal end of the elongated tube, and wherein the at least one deployable element is positioned within the profile of the elongate tube in the insertion position, and is positioned outside the profile of the elongate tube in the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device for insertion into a body cavity, comprising:
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a bendable elongate tube with an internal lumen with an interior diameter extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end; at least one window covering the entire interior diameter of the internal lumen at the distal end of the elongate tube; and at least one deployable element including at least one light source, the at least one deployable member rotatably coupled to the elongate tube at or near the distal end and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the distal end between an insertion position and a deployed position, such that in the insertion position the solid-state light source is disposed distally relative to the distal end of the elongated tube, and wherein the at least one deployable element is positioned within the profile of the elongate tube in the insertion position, and is positioned outside the profile of the elongate tube in the deployed position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification