Systems and methods for high-speed data transmission across an electrical isolation barrier

A medical system comprising:

• a first electrical circuit on a printed circuit board (“PCB”) and configured to provide data;
• a second electrical circuit on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit;
• a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter on the PCB such that a top surface of the RF transmitter is parallel with a top surface of the PCB, electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit, and electrically isolated from the second electrical circuit;
• an RF receiver on the PCB such that a top surface of the RF receiver is parallel with the top surface of the PCB, electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit, and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit;
• and
• a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of the data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver, the waveguide comprising
• an input port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF transmitter, and
• an output port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF receiver;
• wherein
• the RF transmitter is configured to
• receive the data from the first electrical circuit,
• modulate the data onto the RF signal, and
• transmit the RF signal into the waveguide;
• and
• the RF receiver is configured to
• detect the RF signal transmitted into the waveguide;
• demodulate the RF signal back into the data, and
• transmit the data to the second electrical circuit.

An endoscope comprising:

• a camera head;
• and
• a shaft that extends from the camera head and that comprises
• a distal end configured to be positioned within a surgical area of a patient, and
• one or more components within the shaft that are configured to provide signals to the camera head;
• wherein the camera head houses
• a printed circuit board (“PCB”),
• a first electrical circuit on the PCB and configured to
• receive the signals, and
• generate data based on the signals,
• a second electrical circuit on the PCB and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit,
• a radio frequency (“RF”) transmitter on the PCB such that a top surface of the RF transmitter is parallel with a top surface of the PCB, the RF transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the second electrical circuit;
• an RF receiver on the PCB such that a top surface of the RF receiver is parallel with the top surface of the PCB, the RF receiver electrically coupled to the second electrical circuit and electrically isolated from the first electrical circuit;
• and
• a waveguide between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver and configured to guide an RF signal representative of the data between the RF transmitter and the RF receiver, the waveguide comprising
• an input port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF transmitter, and
• an output port that at least partially covers the top surface of the RF receiver.