Circuit board assembly of a multiple viewing elements endoscope

• US 9,901,244 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Krivopisk, Leonid, Salman, Golan, Aizenfeld, Amram, Kirma, Yaniv, Levi, Moshiko, Wieth, Stephan, Avron, Jeruham, Dascalo, Robby, Levy, Avi, Gilreath, Mark, Levin, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Atala, Jamie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hansell, Jr., Richard A
• Application Number:
  US14/318,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 600109, 600101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

There is provided herein, an electronic circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multiple viewing elements endoscope, the assembly including a base board configured to carry a first metal frame to support a front looking viewing element and a second metal frame to support a side looking viewing element; and a flexible illumination circuit board comprising a front foldable panel configured to carry three sets of front illuminators for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front looking viewing element, and a side foldable panel configured to carry a set of side illuminators for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the side looking viewing element.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-viewing elements endoscope, the assembly comprising:

a base board;

a front image sensor;

a front printed circuit board;

a side image sensor;

a side printed circuit board;

a first metal frame configured to receive the front image sensor and the front printed circuit board, wherein the first metal frame is positioned at one end of the base board, wherein said front image sensor and front printed circuit board are directly mounted on said first metal frame and wherein the first metal frame is defined by a first length and a first width, the first length being greater than the first width, and a first central axis that is parallel to said first length;

a second metal frame configured to receive a side image sensor and a side printed circuit board, wherein said second metal frame is positioned adjacent to said first metal frame, wherein the second metal frame is defined by a second length and a second width, the second length being greater than the second width, and a second central axis that is parallel to said second length;

a first illumination circuit board comprising a curved panel, wherein said curved panel comprises at least two sets of front illuminators and is mounted on said base board proximate said first metal frame; and

a second illumination circuit board comprising a curved panel, wherein said curved panel comprises at least one set of side illuminators and is mounted on said base board proximate said second metal frame, wherein, when the assembly is in a form for operative use, the first central axis and second central axis intersect and define an angle within a range of 70 to 135 degrees with respect to each other.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a front lens assembly directly mounted on said first metal frame.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said side image sensor and side printed circuit board are directly mounted on said second metal frame.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a side lens assembly directly mounted on said second metal frame.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first central axis and second central axis define an angle of 90 degrees with respect to each other.

6. An optical assembly for use in a multi-viewing elements endoscope, wherein the optical assembly is manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:

obtaining a base board;

positioning a first metal frame on said base board, wherein the first metal frame is defined by a first length and a first width, the first length being greater than the first width, and a first central axis that is parallel to said first length;

positioning a second metal frame on said base board, wherein the second metal frame is defined by a second length and a second width, the second length being greater than the second width, and a second central axis that is parallel to said second length;

directly mounting a first printed circuit board, a first sensor, and a first lens assembly on said first metal frame;

directly mounting a second printed circuit board, a second sensor, and a second lens assembly on said second metal frame; and

assembling an endoscope tip, wherein, when the optical assembly is in a form for operative use, the first central axis and second central axis intersect and define an angle within a range of 70 to 135 degrees with respect to each other.

7. The optical assembly of claim 6, further comprising obtaining a first illumination circuit board comprising a curved panel, wherein said curved panel comprises at least two sets of front illuminators and is coupled to said base board proximate said first metal frame and wherein said curved panel conforms to a curved surface of the first lens assembly.

8. The optical assembly of claim 6, further comprising obtaining a second illumination circuit board comprising a curved panel, wherein said curved panel comprises at least two sets of front illuminators and is coupled to said base board proximate said second metal frame and wherein said curved panel conforms to a curved surface of the second lens assembly.

9. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the first metal frame comprises a first rear surface and two first side walls extending outward therefrom.

10. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the first printed circuit board is coupled to said first metal frame by placing it between said two first side walls.

11. The optical assembly of claim 10, wherein the second metal frame comprises a second rear surface and two second side walls extending outward therefrom.

12. The optical assembly of claim 11, wherein the second printed circuit board is coupled to said second metal frame by placing it between said two second side walls.

13. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the first sensor comprises a first plurality of connector pins on a first end of the first sensor and a second plurality of connector pins on a second opposing end of the first sensor, wherein the first plurality of connector pins is folded underneath the base board and soldered to the base board and the second plurality of connector pins is folded over a surface of the first metal frame and soldered to the first printed circuit board.

14. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the second sensor comprises a first plurality of connector pins on a first end of the second sensor and a second plurality of connector pins on a second opposing end of the second sensor, wherein the first plurality of connector pins is folded underneath the base board and soldered to the base board and the second plurality of connector pins is folded over a surface of the second metal frame and soldered to the second printed circuit board.

15. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the first lens assembly is mounted on an outer surface of the first sensor.

16. The optical assembly of claim 15, wherein the first lens assembly has a field of view of at least 90 degrees.

17. The optical assembly of claim 15, wherein the second lens assembly is mounted on an outer surface of the second sensor.

18. The optical assembly of claim 6, wherein the second lens assembly has a field of view of at least 90 degrees.