Surgery – Endoscope – Having imaging and illumination means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-14
2003-03-25
Leubecker, John P. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
Having imaging and illumination means
C600S173000, C600S175000, C600S176000, C356S241500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06537209
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices and instruments for medical examination of cavities and to devices for observation of internal surfaces of hollow bodies and tubes and more particularly to constructions of optical systems for examination and observation of spaces in medicine and engineering, particularly with respect to endoscopes. Such optical systems are used when it is necessary to transmit an internal space image for visual examination, photographing, displaying on a monitor screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Constructions of optical systems for observation of spaces are known in medicine and engineering. Most often optical systems contain a tube housing where observation system and illumination channel light guides are arranged. The construction elements for observation or registration are placed on one end of the flexible or rigid tube housing, the other end is introduced into a space and contains elements for image transformation and illumination elements. The observed part of the internal surface is illuminated with the help of the illumination channel and the optical observation system allows investigation of the internal space surface. Quite often it is necessary to investigate lateral space surfaces. In this case the elements allowing a change in the direction of optical observation into lateral in respect to the optical system axis are introduced.
The following inventions can serve as examples of such constructions.
In the invention according to the DE application N 3716401, Int.Cl. A 61 B 1/00 entitled “Endoscope nozzle” and published on Nov. 19, 1987, the nozzle is fixed with the help of a joint on an endoscope housing. It contains a lens with an element for observation direction changing relative to an optical axis of the lens and a light guide of an illumination channel. The optical axes of the observation channel and the illumination channel do not coincide with each other. That's why the nozzle is fixed to the endoscope rigidly and one has to rotate the entire endoscope housing for observation of different surface points.
The Japanese application N 4-4567 entitled “Rigid endoscope of inclined vision” contains a mount, an optical system for observation and a light guide. The mount and the light guide are placed in a tube housing. The optical axes of the observation and illumination system for lateral direction are deflected at an angle with respect to the lens optical axis with the help of a prism. In order to observe the entire lateral surface along the whole transverse perimeter of the investigated cavity it is also necessary to rotate the entire endoscope housing around the axis of symmetry.
“Fiber optic inspection device” according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,660 issued on Dec. 2, 1969 contains a lens in a mount and illumination lamps installed in a housing in a lateral wall of which a window is provided. The lateral observation is performed due to a reflection prism situated opposite the window. For panoramic observation of the walls in a space it is necessary to rotate the entire housing of the fiber optic inspection device. “Stereoscopic endoscope” according to U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,587 issued on Jul. 14, 1970 contains a stereoscopic optical system for lateral observation and a lateral illumination channel fixed in the tube-shaped housing not in line. Each observation system contains a lens and a reflection prism placed opposite a window provided in a housing wall. The illumination system contains a light guide and the reflection prism. Both systems are rigidly fixed in the endoscope housing. For observation of the entire surface in the space with the help of the observation system, it is necessary to rotate the entire endoscope housing around the axis.
“Apparatus for visual inspection of closed machinery” according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,290 issued on Jul. 7, 1987 contains a tube-shaped housing with a lateral window, a lateral observation optical system and a lateral illumination system. The housing is filled with inert gas which provides safety from explosion of the apparatus during usage. Both systems of observation and illumination are fixedly attached in the housing of the inspection apparatus to perform panoramic observation through rotating the entire endoscope housing connected by wires with the auxiliary equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,859 issued on Mar. 1, 1988 “Right angle detachable prism assembly for borescope” discloses a device for investigation of the internal spaces contains a tube where an image transmission channel and an illumination channel are situated not in line with the tube. A head containing two closely arranged prisms installed in a common mount is connected to the tube. One prism is used for illumination of the lateral surface of the investigated space and the second prism is used for image transmission in case of lateral viewing.
In order to observe the entire surface of the space or channel using this device it is necessary to rotate the tube together with the head around the longitudinal axis which is not always convenient because the device is connected by wires with the auxiliary equipment.
The object of the declared invention is to create an optical system of lateral observation endoscope to perform panoramic observation of the internal surface of a space or channel due to rotation of only the lateral observation nozzle around the optical axis of the endoscope by an unlimited angle.
The achievement of the mentioned object will make the endoscope application more convenient and will enlarge its possibilities.
Another object of the invention is to obtain a construction where a beam of lateral illumination and a beam of lateral observation converge spatially which provides better observation conditions.
Another object of the invention is to make an endoscope application more convenient as well as to improve the quality of optical observation of the internal space or tube with the help of the endoscope.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed when considering the detailed description and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An optical system of the lateral observation endoscope is provided in the form of a tube where the lens is installed along the axis of symmetry and a longitudinal fiber illumination light guide is arranged along the entire internal surface of the tube.
The lateral observation nozzle is installed on the tube, whose housing is tube-shaped with a window in the lateral wall and is installed on the tube in line with the possibility of unlimited rotation around the tube for panoramic lateral observation.
The lateral observation nozzle is provided with a unit of two reflection prisms, one of which is meant for lateral observation and the other prism for lateral illumination. The lateral observation prism is incorporated into the lateral illumination prism body in such a way that each of two refracting faces of one prism lies in the plane of the matched faces of another prism. In this case, the refracting faces of the lateral- illumination prism cover faces of the lateral observation prism on three sides. In this case the illumination beam illuminates more uniformly the observed surface section which is situated in the view field of the lateral observation prism.
The prism unit is installed in the housing of the nozzle in such a way that one pair of the matched refracting faces of both prisms lies in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, in this case the-refracting face of the lateral observation prism is arranged opposite the lens installed along the tube symmetry axis and the matched with the face of the lateral illumination gob prism being arranged opposite the end face of the longitudinal fiber illumination light guide. Another pair of refracting faces adjacent to the mentioned pair, is oriented towards the lateral window provided in the wall of the nozzle housing.
The integration of the lateral observation prism with the lateral illumination prism in the prism unit along the entire surface of their mutual contact is opaque. That's
Pinkhasik Naum
Sorin Lev E.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Itconcepts, Inc.
Leubecker John P.
LandOfFree
Optical system of lateral observation endoscope does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical system of lateral observation endoscope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical system of lateral observation endoscope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3018194