US 10,517,470 B2Granted

Optical instrument and articulating image sensing apparatus therefor

AssigneeKarl Storz Endovision, Inc.

InventorVernon Hopkins, Jr.

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Abstract

An imaging apparatus is adapted for use in an optical instrument having an elongated shaft with a transparent distal end portion. The imaging apparatus includes and image sensor assembly, a first articulating structure, and a second articulating structure mounted on the first articulating structure. First and second lateral side support structures at the lateral sides of the image sensor assembly are each mounted on the second articulating structure so as to position the image sensor assembly in an operating position in the instrument transparent end portion. The connection to the second articulating structure allows an articulation of the image sensor assembly about a lateral articulation axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft distal end portion. This lateral articulation is in addition to the ability of the first articulating structure to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the shaft distal end portion.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An instrument including:

(a) an instrument shaft having a distal end portion which is transparent;
(b) an image sensor assembly having an image sensing axis, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side;
(c) a first articulating structure mounted at and enclosed within the distal end portion of the instrument shaft for rotation within the distal end portion of the instrument shaft about a longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft;
(d) a second articulating structure mounted on the first articulating structure eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft;
(e) a first lateral side support structure located at the first lateral side of the image sensor assembly;
(f) a second lateral side support structure located at the second lateral side of the image sensor assembly, the first lateral side support structure and the second lateral side support structure each being mounted on the second articulating structure eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft so as to position the image sensor assembly in the distal end portion of the instrument shaft and to facilitate articulation of the image sensor assembly so as to rotate the image sensing axis about a lateral articulation axis extending transverse to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft;
and
(g) an articulation control assembly configured to control rotation of the first articulating structure about the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft and to control the articulation of the image sensor assembly about the lateral articulation axis.

5 more elements

An imaging apparatus for an instrument having an elongated shaft with a transparent distal end portion, the imaging apparatus including:

(a) an image sensor assembly having an image sensing axis, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side;
(b) a first articulating structure mounted at and enclosed within the instrument shaft for rotation within the distal end portion of the instrument shaft about a longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft when the imaging apparatus is in an operation position within the instrument shaft;
(c) a second articulating structure mounted on the first articulating structure eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft when the imaging apparatus is in the operating position within the instrument shaft;
(d) a first lateral side support structure located at the first lateral side of the image sensor assembly;
and
(e) a second lateral side support structure located at the second lateral side of the image sensor assembly, the first lateral side support structure and the second lateral side support structure each being mounted on the second articulating structure eccentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft so as to position the image sensor assembly in the distal end portion of the instrument shaft and to facilitate articulation of the image sensor assembly so as to rotate the image sensing axis about a lateral articulation axis extending transverse to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the instrument shaft when the imaging apparatus is mounted in the operating position in the instrument shaft.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/154,884Filed 13 May 2016
Published: US 2017/0325671 A116 Nov 2017
Granted: 31 Dec 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 1/0627
With illuminating arrangements: for variable illumination angles
A61B 1/0008
Insertion part of the endoscope body: characterised by distal tip features
A61B 1/00183
Characterised by the viewing angles: for variable viewing angles
A61B 1/045
Combined with photographic or television appliances: control thereof