Capsule endoscope
First Claim
1. A capsule endoscope comprising:
- lighting means that includes at least two light sources;
a light diffuser arranged in front of each of the at least two respective light sources;
an image pickup means that includes an objective optical system; and
a transparent cover that may be attached to a capsule body so as to enclosed the lighting means, the light diffusers and the image pickup means;
wherein said at least two light sources are arranged at the periphery of the objective optical system, and rays having a normalized intensity ratio of 0.1 from the at least two light sources intersect prior to reaching the near point of the depth of field of the objective optical system, said intersection point being within the interior region of said capsule body with transparent cover attached.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capsule endoscope is provided with lighting means for illuminating the interior of a living body, an image pickup means for capturing an image of a site illuminated by the lighting means, and a transparent cover which houses the image pickup means and the lighting means within a sealed, cylindrical-shaped capsule case. The image pickup means includes an objective optical system having a depth of field. An object within the depth of field of the objective optical system is illuminated more evenly than possible with a single lighting means by arranging multiple lighting means at the periphery of the objective optical system and causing the beams from individual lighting means to overlap in specified ways so that a nearly uniform illumination of an object of interest is achieved. Light diffusers may be employed to diffuse the light from the light sources, and a color correction filter may be used.
66 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A capsule endoscope comprising:
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lighting means that includes at least two light sources;
a light diffuser arranged in front of each of the at least two respective light sources;
an image pickup means that includes an objective optical system; and
a transparent cover that may be attached to a capsule body so as to enclosed the lighting means, the light diffusers and the image pickup means;
wherein said at least two light sources are arranged at the periphery of the objective optical system, and rays having a normalized intensity ratio of 0.1 from the at least two light sources intersect prior to reaching the near point of the depth of field of the objective optical system, said intersection point being within the interior region of said capsule body with transparent cover attached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A capsule endoscope comprising:
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lighting means that includes at least two light sources;
an image pickup means that includes an objective optical system; and
a transparent cover that may be attached to a capsule body so as to enclosed the lighting means and the image pickup means;
wherein said at least two light sources are arranged at the periphery of the objective optical system, and rays having a normalized intensity ratio of 0.5 from the at least two light sources intersect prior to reaching the near point of the depth of field of the objective optical system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A capsule endoscope comprising:
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lighting means that includes at least two light sources;
a light diffuser arranged in front of each of the at least two respective light sources;
an image pickup means that includes an objective optical system; and
a transparent cover that may be attached to a capsule body so as to enclose the lighting means, the light diffuser, and the image pickup means;
wherein said at least two light sources are arranged at the periphery of the objective optical system, and rays having a normalized intensity ratio of 0.1 from the at least two light sources intersect prior to reaching the outer surface of the transparent cover. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A capsule endoscope comprising:
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lighting means that includes at least two light sources;
an image pickup means that includes an objective optical system; and
a transparent cover that may be attached to a capsule body so as to enclosed the lighting means and the image pickup means;
wherein said at least two light sources are arranged at the periphery of the objective optical system, and rays from said light-emitting elements having a normalized intensity of 0.5 intersect prior to reaching the outer surface of the transparent cover. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification