Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture

Details Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture

2011-07-12

2011-07-12

Smith, Philip R (Department: 3779)

Surgery

Endoscope

Having imaging and illumination means

Reexamination Certificate

active

07976462

ABSTRACT:
Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopses after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path. This optical path may lead to a detector onto which images are formed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4850342 (1989-07-01), Hashiguchi et al.
patent: 5865725 (1999-02-01), Arai et al.
patent: 5980453 (1999-11-01), Forkey et al.
patent: 6248060 (2001-06-01), Buess et al.
patent: 6364830 (2002-04-01), Durell
patent: 6635010 (2003-10-01), Lederer
patent: 6638216 (2003-10-01), Durell
patent: 6692431 (2004-02-01), Kazakevich
patent: 6921920 (2005-07-01), Kazakevich
patent: 7063663 (2006-06-01), Kazakevich
patent: 7345312 (2008-03-01), Kazakevich
patent: 7540645 (2009-06-01), Kazakevich
patent: 2002/0103420 (2002-08-01), Coleman et al.
patent: 2002/0154215 (2002-10-01), Schechterman et al.
patent: 2002/0183623 (2002-12-01), Tang et al.
patent: 2003/0018238 (2003-01-01), Obata et al.
patent: 2003/0042493 (2003-03-01), Kazakevich
patent: 2003/0120129 (2003-06-01), Nakamura
patent: 2004/0031517 (2004-02-01), Bareis
patent: 2005/0075538 (2005-04-01), Banik et al.
patent: 2006/0293565 (2006-12-01), Uchimura
patent: 2008/0130311 (2008-06-01), Kazakevich
patent: 2002-224015 (2002-08-01), None
patent: 2003-021792 (2003-01-01), None
patent: 2003-024276 (2003-01-01), None
patent: WO 03/022135 (2003-03-01), None
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2005/11279, dated Jun. 27, 2007.
Supplementary European Search Report issued in European Application No. 05732799.1 on Aug. 10, 2009.
Japan Patent Office; Office Action; Patent Application No. 2007-507398 (dated Jan. 5. 2011).
Office Action, dated Jun. 16, 2010, issued by the European Patent Office for European Patent Application No. 05 732 799.1.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2734065