Solid state variable direction of view endoscope with rotatable wide-angle field for maximal image performance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope comprising:
- a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis;
a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field;
an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field;
an optical rotator interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and the image sensor, the optical rotator being rotatable such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view;
a relay lens system interposed between the optical rotator and the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection; and
an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator;
wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis.
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Abstract
An endoscope and endoscopic surgical system for improving the image resolution/performance of a solid state variable direction of view endoscope. The endoscope and endoscopic surgical system has an optical rotator element that optically rotates the entire wide-angle field so as to make any portion of the wide-angle field visible to an image sensor.
93 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An endoscope comprising:
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a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field; an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field; an optical rotator interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and the image sensor, the optical rotator being rotatable such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view; a relay lens system interposed between the optical rotator and the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection; and an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator; wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis. - 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)
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26. An endoscopic surgical system comprising:
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an input device; an endoscope having; a body having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end, a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field, an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field, a relay lens system interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and an optical rotator, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection, the optical rotator interposed between the relay lens system and the image sensor, wherein the optical rotator is rotated such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view, an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator, wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis; a display for presenting to the user the selected portion of the sensor view corresponding to the region of interest in the wide viewing field; wherein the input device allows a user to select a portion of the sensor view corresponding to a region of interest in the wide viewing field. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An endoscope comprising:
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a body having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end; a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body, the wide-angle objective-type lens being able to collect light from a wide viewing field; an illumination system for providing light to at least a portion of the wide viewing field; an electronic image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body; an optical image transmission system interposed between the wide-angle objective type lens and the electronic image sensor, the optical image transmission system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field for detection by the electronic image sensor at any given time; an optical rotator interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and the electronic image sensor for rotating the wide viewing field such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the electronic image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view; and an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator; wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the optical image transmission system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification