Autoclavable video camera for an endoscope
First Claim
1. An electronic video camera for an endoscope, comprising:
- an enclosure having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein, the cover having a window therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling;
a lens cell having at least one lens;
a lens cell holder, wherein the lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder;
an image sensor in optical communication with the lens cell and window;
a motorized focusing system adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder; and
switch controls disposed on the enclosure and in electrical communication with the motorized focusing system, the switch controls hermetically sealed with the enclosure, wherein the lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sterilizable electronic video cameras for an endoscope are provided. The electronic video camera comprises an enclosure, a lens cell, a lens cell holder, an image sensor, a motorized focusing system, and switch control. The enclosure comprises a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein. The cover has a window disposed therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling. The lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder. The image sensor is in optical communication with the lens cell and window. The motorized focusing system is adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder controlled by the switch. The switch control is activated external to the enclosure and is hermetically sealed therewith. The lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity.
62 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An electronic video camera for an endoscope, comprising:
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an enclosure having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein, the cover having a window therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling; a lens cell having at least one lens; a lens cell holder, wherein the lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder; an image sensor in optical communication with the lens cell and window; a motorized focusing system adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder; and switch controls disposed on the enclosure and in electrical communication with the motorized focusing system, the switch controls hermetically sealed with the enclosure, wherein the lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 9)
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5. An electronic video camera for an endoscope, comprising:
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an enclosure having a housing and a cover, the housing defining a cavity therein, the cover having a window therein, the housing and cover adapted for hermetic coupling; a lens cell having at least one lens; a lens cell holder, wherein the lens cell is slidably disposed in the lens cell holder; an image sensor in optical communication with the lens cell and window; a motorized focusing system adapted to axially reciprocally move the lens cell relative to the lens cell holder; switch controls disposed on the enclosure and in electrical communication with the motorized focusing system, the switch controls hermetically sealed with the enclosure, wherein the lens cell, lens cell holder, image sensor, and the motorized focusing system, as an assembly, are coupled to the cover and disposed within the cavity; wherein the cavity is defined by a single axial bore, wherein the lens cell holder, the lens cell, the image sensor, and the motorized focusing system are adapted to be disposed within the axial bore; wherein the housing has a housing proximal end that is closed and a housing distal end that is open, the cover having a cover interior side and a cover external side, the cover defining a stepped annular aperture, the window being hermetically sealed within the stepped annular aperture, the window adapted to be optically transparent, the cover exterior side adapted to optically and mechanically couple with an endoscope; and wherein the housing proximal end comprises a cable connector hermetically coupled with the housing and adapted to allow electrical communication therethrough, and wherein the cavity adjacent to the housing proximal end comprises electronic connectors in electrical communication with the cable connector, the motorized focusing system and the image sensor in electrical communication with the electronic connectors. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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- 10. A keypad for maintaining a hermetic seal with a housing, comprising a means for sensing finger motion and a means for converting that motion to an electric signal transmitted internal to the housing.
Specification