US 10,517,464 B2 · Multi-element cover for a multi-camera endoscope

Abstract

A multi-camera endoscope includes a the tip section comprising: a front looking camera and a front discrete illuminator to essentially illuminate the field of view of said front looking camera; a right side looking camera and a right discrete illuminator to essentially illuminate the field of view of said right side looking camera; a left side looking camera and a left discrete illuminator to essentially illuminate the field of view of said left side looking camera; and a multi-component cover configured to cover and seal said tip section such as to essentially prevent entry of fluids from the environment of said endoscope to inner parts of said tip section. The tip cover includes removable or repositionable window components which provide access to internal components of the tip for repair or removal, without removing the main tip cover.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-component cover for a tip section of a multi-viewing element endoscope, said tip section comprising a front pointing viewing element and at least one side pointing viewing element, wherein each viewing element comprises an image sensor and a lens assembly, and each viewing element is associated with a discrete illuminator, said multi-component cover comprising:

a main component configured to cover a portion of said tip section, said main component comprising a distal face and one or more side walls extending proximally from said distal face and extending longitudinally along a length of the tip section;
and
a removable window component located on the one or more side walls of said main component, said removable window component configured to removably cover a window opening located on said main component, wherein the optical axis of the front pointing viewing element and the optical axis of the at least one side pointing viewing element do not extend through the window opening, wherein said window opening is positioned to allow access to an inner part of said tip section without removing said main component.

A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:

a front looking camera;
a first side looking camera;
an electronic circuit board coupled to at least one of the front looking camera and the first side looking camera;
and
a multi-component cover configured to cover said tip section, the multi-component cover comprising:
a main component configured to cover at least a portion of said tip section;
and
a first side removable component coupled to a side surface portion of said main component, wherein said first side removable component is configured to removably cover an opening located on said main component, wherein the optical axis of the front looking camera and the optical axis of the first side looking camera do not extend through the opening, wherein said opening provides an unobstructed pathway between an area exterior to the tip section and the electronic circuit board when the first side removable component is removed from the opening, and wherein said opening is positioned to allow access to an inner part of said tip section without removing said main component.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-element cover for a multi-camera endoscope

Life of this patent

Multi-element cover for a multi-camera endoscope

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20