Manifold for a multiple viewing elements endoscope

• US 9,986,899 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Avron, Jeruham, Dascalo, Robby
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, AARON BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US14/469,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 600129, 600170, 600172, 600175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature

Abstract

There is provided herein an integrated manifold for the tip of a multiple viewing elements endoscope which combines the functionalities of the front holder, side holder/cage and fluid channeling components into a single part. The manifold includes square slots that are equipped with tracks. Square shaped lens assemblies having protrusions are used in the endoscope tip, such that the protrusions allow the optical assemblies to slide into the tracks of the square slots. This ensures gapless placement of viewing elements with no deviation in their position and field of view.

Claims

1. An endoscope tip comprising:

a flexible optical assembly carrier substrate comprising a front-facing imaging module and a side-facing imaging module; and

a manifold having

a proximal base with a first length and a first width;

a casing extending outward from said proximal base and distal to the proximal base, wherein said casing has a second length and second width and wherein said first length is less than the second length and the first width is greater than the second width;

at least one continuous channel that extends through the proximal base for a full extent of said first length and through the casing for a full extent of the second length; and

a frame extending transversely from a surface of said casing and along said first width, wherein said frame comprises two recesses, the two recesses including a first recess and a second recess, wherein the first recess and the second recess are individual and discrete recesses, and wherein the first recess is adapted to slidably receive the front-facing imaging module of said flexible optical assembly carrier substrate while the frame is fixed to the casing, and the second recess is adapted to slidably receive the side-facing imaging module of said flexible optical assembly carrier substrate while the frame is fixed to the casing.

2. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein, upon the front-facing imaging module of said flexible optical assembly carrier substrate being received into the first recess, a lens of the front-facing imaging module protrudes from the manifold.

3. The endoscope tip of claim 2 wherein, upon the side-facing imaging module of said flexible optical assembly carrier substrate being received into the second recess, a lens of the side-facing imaging module protrudes from the manifold.

4. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein the flexible optical assembly carrier substrate comprises protrusions and wherein each of the two recesses comprises grooves to receive said protrusions.

5. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein each of the two recesses comprises protrusions and wherein said flexible optical assembly carrier substrate comprises grooves to receive said protrusions.

6. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein a line passing through a center of the first recess is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the endoscope tip.

7. The endoscope tip of claim 6 wherein a line passing through a center of the second recess is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope tip.

8. The endoscope tip of claim 7 wherein the frame of the manifold further comprises a third recess and the flexible optical assembly carrier substrate comprises a second side-facing imaging module, and wherein the third recess is adapted to slidably receive said second side-facing imaging module while the frame is fixed to the casing.

9. The endoscope tip of claim 8 wherein a line passing through a center of the third recess is coaxial with the line passing through the center of the second recess and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope tip.

10. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein the frame of the manifold further comprises a third recess and the flexible optical assembly carrier substrate comprises a second side-facing imaging module, and wherein the third recess is adapted to slidably receive said second side-facing imaging module while the frame is fixed to the casing.

11. The endoscope tip of claim 10 wherein the front-facing imaging module in combination with said side-facing imaging module and said second side-facing imaging module have a combined, continuous field of view in a range of 220 to 330 degrees.

12. The endoscope tip of claim 10 wherein the front-facing imaging module in combination with said side-facing imaging module and said second side-facing imaging module have a combined, continuous field of view of approximately 330 degrees.

13. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein the casing comprises three continuous channels that extend through the proximal base for the full extent of said first length and through the casing for the full extent of the second length, and wherein each of the three continuous channels is fluidically isolated from each other.

14. The endoscope tip of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises regions for receiving a plurality of illuminators positioned adjacent to each of said recesses.