Autoclavable coupler for endoscopic camera system

• US 6,932,760 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Pang, Chien Mien, Ng, YanPeng, Chang, William H. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, PHILIP ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/302,612
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 600/112, 600/133, 600167-169, 600/174, 359/823, 359825-826, 348/73
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances

Abstract

An autoclavable endoscopic optical coupler includes the capability to optically couple an endoscope and a camera, so that a focused image will be communicated to the camera head. Furthermore, the coupler has the capability of withstanding multiple autoclave sterilization treatments without allowing moisture to penetrate the interior. The coupler includes a lens holder assembly that has an endobody on one portion and a second portion that is inserted into and coupled to a coupler body. The coupler body has a camera attached at one of its ends. A focus ring is physically coupled to the coupler body, which is coupled to the lens holder assembly. Turning the focus ring causes a translation motion of the lens holder assembly and endoscope with respect to the camera head.

Claims

1. An optical coupler comprising:

a lens holder containing a plurality of lenses disposed along an optical axis;

a lens rider containing the lens holder, the lens rider having a first end and a second end;

a transparent cover attached to the first end of the lens rider to seal the first end from moisture intrusion;

a window holder having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the window holder having a transparent cover sealing the first portion from moisture intrusion, the second portion of the window holder attached to the first end of the lens rider so as to hermetically seal the interior of the lens rider;

a condensation-inhibiting gas inside the hermetically sealed lens rider;

an endobody, at which an endoscope can be coupled to the lens rider, attached to the first end of the lens rider;

a focus tube containing at least a portion of the lens rider;

a cam body disposed about the focus tube, the cam body having a helical groove disposed therein;

a roller disposed within the helical groove in the cam body;

a member disposed through a hole in the roller and having a first portion attached to the focus tube and a second portion attached to the lens rider;

a focus ring surrounding the cam body to turn the cam body and the focus tube about an optical axis of the optical coupler; and

a camera-mount nut attached to the focus tube to constrain the focus ring on the cam body and capable of coupling a camera to the focus tube.