Optical coupler for an endoscope

An optical coupler for mounting at a distal end of an image capture device for visualizing a surface area, the coupler comprising:

• a body having a distal end and a proximal end, the body including a visualization section at its distal end, the visualization section including a proximal surface for engaging or covering a portion of the distal end of an image capture element of the image capture device, the visualization section including an outer surface spaced apart from the proximal surface, the visualization section comprising an elastic material capable of transmitting an optical image of the surface area, the proximal surface configured to prohibit fluid or material from contacting the image capture element of the image capture device during visualization of the surface area;
• an attachment section connected to and extending away from the visualization section at the proximal end of the coupler, the attachment section being dimensioned to be mounted at the distal end of the image capture device, wherein at least a portion of the visualization section of the body is configured to optically modify the image transmitted to the image capture device;
• and
• a heating device comprising a wire extending through the body and at least to the visualization section of the coupler, the wire being connected to an electrode on the outer surface of the visualization section, the wire and electrode both being molded within the body of the optical coupler.