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US 10,588,497 B2Granted
Compact endoscope tip and method for constructing same
AssigneeCogentix Medical, Inc.
InventorsEllie Konwitz, Martin Abraham, Thomas S. Soulos, Ron Hadani
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This application presents to an endoscope having a compact distal tip, and to a method for constructing same. In some embodiments one or more optical and sensing elements are mounted directly on an internal surface of a lumen within an external housing, which housing comprises an outer wall of the endoscope tip. Space saved by eliminating intervening containing elements can be used to enhance endoscope performance and/or reduce endoscope size.
Claims15
An endoscope tip comprising:
- a housing of unitary construction defining an external surface of the endoscope tip and carrying a lens mounting portion at a distal end, said lens mounting portion configured as a first lumen defining an internal surface of the housing therewithin, wherein the internal surface comprises an obstructive feature that narrows a diameter of the lens mounting portion, the housing further carrying at least a second lumen separate from the lens mounting portion;
- and an optical element assembly directly mounted to the internal surface within the lens mounting portion and being at least partially light-transmissive, the optical element assembly comprising a first component, a spacer and one or more intermediate components arranged therebetween, wherein the housing further defines a lower shelf support continuous from a material that defines both the external surface and the internal surface of the housing, the lower shelf support configured for direct mounting of an optical sensor array thereon having an optical axis substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical element assembly, and wherein said first component and obstructive feature maintain said intermediate components fixed in position within said lens mounting portion.
An endoscope tip comprising:
- a housing of unitary construction defining an external surface of the endoscope tip and including a cylindrically shaped cavity and a lens mounting portion, the lens mounting portion defining a first lumen, said first lumen comprising a wall having an internal surface, said internal surface comprising an obstructive feature configured as a projection to narrow the diameter of the lens mounting portion and said surface comprising an outer wall of said endoscope tip, wherein said cavity is configured as a proximal extension of the first lumen such that the surface of a wall of the cavity is coextensive with the surface of the wall of the first lumen, and the internal surface of the wall of the cavity is configured for directly mounting a prism, wherein the housing further defines a lower shelf support continuous from a material that defines both the external surface and the internal surface of the housing;
- and an optical assembly directly mounted to the internal surface within said lens mounting portion and being at least partially light-transmissive, the optical assembly including a first component, a final component, a plurality of intermediate components and at least one spacer in direct contact with the internal surface, wherein said first component is affixed to said internal surface of said lens mounting portion and said plurality of intermediate components are positioned serially within said lens mounting portion by said first and final components, and wherein the lower shelf support is configured for direct mounting of an optical sensor array thereon so that an optical axis of the optical sensor array is:
- in optical communication with the prism, and substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical element assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.