Anti-fogging device for endoscope

An endoscopic system comprising:

• a light system comprising at least one source of electromagnetic waves that comprises a source of imaging light and a source of heating light;
• an endoscope engaged with the light system and receiving electromagnetic waves from the light system, the endoscope including an elongate tubular housing assembly comprising a distal opening, an electromagnetic wave propagation assembly that extends along at least a portion of an interior of the elongate tubular housing assembly and is configured to propagate the electromagnetic waves along the at least a portion of the elongate tubular housing assembly to the distal opening, and a distal window at the distal opening, the distal window allowing a first portion of the electromagnetic waves to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of the electromagnetic waves in order to heat the distal window;
• and
• a camera system configured to capture at least one image via the endoscope, detect fogging on the distal window based on the at least one image, and send a signal to the light system in response to detecting fogging on the distal window;
• wherein the light system is configured to activate the source of heating light in response to receiving the signal from the camera system.

A method of activating at least one source of electromagnetic waves of an endoscopic system comprising:

• providing a light system including the at least one source of electromagnetic waves, the at least one source of electromagnetic waves including a source of imaging light and a separate source of heating light;
• engaging an endoscope with the light system and receiving electromagnetic waves from the light system, the endoscope including an elongate tubular housing assembly comprising a distal opening, an electromagnetic wave propagation assembly that extends along at least a portion of an interior of the elongate tubular housing assembly and configured to propagate the electromagnetic waves along the at least a portion of the elongate tubular housing assembly to the distal opening, and a distal window at the distal opening;
• allowing a first portion of the electromagnetic waves to pass through the distal window while absorbing a second portion of the electromagnetic waves with the distal window via one or more filters in order to heat the distal window with the second portion of the electromagnetic waves;
• and
• communicating at least one property of the endoscope to the light system by sending electromagnetic waves from the endoscope to the light system through a light cable.

A method for endoscopic imaging comprising:

• generating electromagnetic waves by a light system that comprises a source of imaging light and a source of heating light;
• receiving the electromagnetic waves from the light system at an endoscope, the endoscope comprising an elongate tubular housing assembly comprising a distal opening, an electromagnetic wave propagation assembly that extends along at least a portion of interior of the elongate tubular housing assembly and is configured to propagate the electromagnetic waves along the at least a portion of the elongate tubular housing assembly to the distal opening, and a distal window at the distal opening, the distal window allowing a first portion of the electromagnetic waves to pass therethrough while absorbing a second portion of the electromagnetic waves in order to heat the distal window;
• capturing at least one image via the endoscope by a camera system;
• detecting fogging on the distal window by the camera system based on the at least one image;
• sending a signal from the camera system to the light system in response to detecting fogging on the distal window;
• and
• activating the source of heating light in response to receiving the signal from the camera system.