# US 10,481,386 B2 · Optical article and illumination system for endoscope

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- Number: US 10,481,386 B2
- Document ID: US10481386B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/471,994
- Filed: 2017-03-28
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30
- Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
- Applicants: Arizona Board of Regents On Behalf of the University of Arizona
- Inventors: Hong Hua; Rengmao Wu; Yi Qin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481386B2

## CPC

- G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres}
- A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements}
- A61B 1/00165: {with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/0607: {for annular illumination}
- A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
- A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy}
- G02B 3/02: with non-spherical faces (G02B3/10 takes precedence)
- G02B 6/0008: {the light being emitted at the end of the fibre}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An optical element, wherein axially symmetric or not, an output surface of which contains a plurality of indentations configured to increase a degree of divergence of light that is incident onto such surface through an input surface of the optical element. In one implementation, each of the indentations defines a corresponding aspheric lenslet the plurality of which encircles the central opening in the optical element. The optical element can he configured as a lightguide having the specified output surface. An illumination system for a laparoscope employing such optical element as an addition to the optical fiber bundle of the laparoscope or as a fiber bundle itself that has the specified output surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article of manufacture comprising:
an optically-transparent component having an optical axis and a thickness defined between first and second surfaces each of which is transverse to the optical axis,
wherein said optically-transparent component defines a first projected area on a plane that is transverse to the optical axis,
wherein one of the first and second surfaces contains a plurality of indentations disposed along a closed curve that circumscribes the optical axis; and
a screen having an optically-opaque area, the screen dimensioned to define a second projected area on said plane, the first and second projected areas being congruent with one another.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said closed curve is an ellipse.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said one of the first and second surfaces contains a surface area with a cross-sectional profile represented by an even polynomial function z=Σm=020Cmx2m,
wherein x is a coordinate measured along said one of the first and second surfaces and Cm represents a polynomial coefficient.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said optically-transparent component includes a plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

An article of manufacture according to claim 4, wherein said plate has a cross-section with a perimeter defined by a differentiable closed curve, said cross-section defined in a plane that is transverse to the optical axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

An article of manufacture according to claim 4, wherein said plate has a planar surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

An article of manufacture according to claim 4, wherein said plate has an annularly-shaped cross section in a plane that is transverse to said optical axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said screen has a plurality of optically-transparent apertures therein.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, further comprising a lightguide in optical communication with the optically-transparent component through said screen.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, further comprising a lightguide with an end surface that is abutted directly against said optically-transparent component.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said optically-transparent component includes a lightguide having a length that is equal to said thickness.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An article of manufacture according to claim 11, wherein said light-guide includes a flexible bundle of optical fibers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An endoscope comprising an article of manufacture according to claim 1.