Multi-camera endoscope
First Claim
1. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:
- an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section has an end surface and a side surface extending along its length and comprises;
a front-pointing camera and at least two discrete front illuminators associated therewith, wherein said front-pointing camera and the at least two discrete front illuminators are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through said end surface and wherein said front-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 3-100 millimeters;
a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said at least two discrete front illuminators;
a first side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated therewith, wherein the first side-pointing camera and discrete side illuminator are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through the side surface wherein said first side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said first side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface;
a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said first side-pointing camera and said associated discrete side illuminator;
a second side-pointing camera opposing said first side-pointing camera, wherein said second side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said second side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface;
a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool;
an integrated circuit board adapted to supply the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera with electrical power and derive images from each of the front-pointing, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera, anda pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted, wherein fields of view of said front-pointing camera and first side-pointing camera and fields of views of said front-pointing camera and second side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an object of interest viewed via said first side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said first side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera and such that an object of interest viewed via said second side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said second side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-camera endoscope which includes an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein the tip section includes: a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith; a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator; a side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated therewith; a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said side-pointing camera and said discrete side illuminator; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:
an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section has an end surface and a side surface extending along its length and comprises; a front-pointing camera and at least two discrete front illuminators associated therewith, wherein said front-pointing camera and the at least two discrete front illuminators are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through said end surface and wherein said front-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 3-100 millimeters; a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said at least two discrete front illuminators; a first side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated therewith, wherein the first side-pointing camera and discrete side illuminator are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through the side surface wherein said first side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said first side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface; a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said first side-pointing camera and said associated discrete side illuminator; a second side-pointing camera opposing said first side-pointing camera, wherein said second side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said second side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; an integrated circuit board adapted to supply the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera with electrical power and derive images from each of the front-pointing, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera, and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted, wherein fields of view of said front-pointing camera and first side-pointing camera and fields of views of said front-pointing camera and second side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an object of interest viewed via said first side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said first side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera and such that an object of interest viewed via said second side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said second side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A multi-camera endoscopy system comprising:
an endoscope comprising a handle and an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises; a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith, wherein said front-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and having a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 3-100 millimeters; a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said discrete front illuminator; a first side-pointing camera and a discrete side illuminator associated therewith, wherein said first side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said first side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from a distal end of the tip section; a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said first side-pointing camera and said discrete side illuminator; a second side-pointing camera pointed in a direction opposite said first side-pointing camera, wherein said second side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters and wherein a center of said second side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the distal end of the tip section; a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; an integrated circuit board adapted to supply the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera with electrical power and derive images from each of the front-pointing, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera; and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted; a controller connected to said handle of said endoscope by way of a utility cable; and a display connected to said controller and configured to display video streams received from said front and side-pointing cameras wherein fields of view of said front-pointing camera and first side-pointing camera and fields of views of said front-pointing camera and second side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an object of interest viewed via said first side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said first side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera and such that an object of interest viewed via said second side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said second side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera.
Specification