# US 12,004,716 B2 · Relay lens system for broadband imaging

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- Number: US 12,004,716 B2
- Document ID: US12004716B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/657,738
- Filed: 2022-04-01
- Published: 2022-07-14
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-03-04
- Assignees: Stryker Corporation
- Applicants: Stryker Corporation
- Inventors: Frederick Allen Moore
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004716B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/002: having rod-lens arrangements (A61B1/055 takes precedence)
- A61B 1/055: having rod-lens arrangements
- G02B 13/0095: {Relay lenses or rod lenses (in instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies G02B23/2446)}
- G02B 23/2446: {of the image relay (G02B23/26 takes precedence)}
- G02B 27/0062: {by controlling the dispersion of a lens material, e.g. adapting the relative partial dispersion}
- H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An optical system includes a first relay rod of a first material, a second relay rod of a second material, different from the first material, and a lens between the first and second relay rods.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical system, comprising:
a first relay rod of a first material, the first relay rod having no optical power;
a second relay rod of a second material, different from the first material, wherein the first and second materials are selected to reduce the wavefront error across the field of view of the optical system as compared with using a same material for both the first and second relay rods, the second relay rod having no optical power, wherein the first and second relay rods are geometrically symmetric to one another relative to a pupil or conjugate pupil of the optical system, the first and second relay rods having a same length; and
a lens between the first and second relay rods.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the lens includes a first relay objective and a second relay objective.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein a pupil region of the system is in air.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, further comprising:
a third relay rod of a third material;
a fourth relay rod of a fourth material, the fourth material being different from the third material; and
a lens between the third and fourth relay rods.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optical system of claim 4, wherein the first and third materials are the same and the second and fourth materials are the same.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, further comprising a detector to detect light from 460 nm to 850 nm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The optical system of claim 1, wherein the first and second relay rods and the lens has refractive index symmetry and Abbe number asymmetry about a pupil region.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An endoscope including the optical system of claim 1.

### Claim 9

A kit, comprising:
a first relay rod of a first material, the first relay rod having no optical power;
a second relay rod of a second material, different from the first material, wherein the first and second materials are selected to reduce the wavefront error across the field of view of the optical system as compared with using a same material for both the first and second relay rods, the second relay rod having no optical power, wherein the first and second relay rods are geometrically symmetric to one another relative to a pupil or conjugate pupil of the optical system, the first and second relay rods having a same length; and
a lens to be inserted between the first and second relay rods.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The kit of claim 9, wherein the lens includes a first relay objective and a second relay objective.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The kit of claim 9, wherein the first and second relay rods and the lens has refractive index symmetry and Abbe number asymmetry about a pupil region.

### Claim 12

A method of compensating for dispersion in a relay lens system, the method comprising:
providing a first relay rod of a first material, the first relay rod having no optical power;
providing a second relay rod of a second material, different from the first material, wherein the first and second materials are selected to reduce the wavefront error across the field of view of the optical system as compared with using a same material for both the first and second relay rods, the second relay rod having no optical power, wherein the first and second relay rods are geometrically symmetric to one another relative to a pupil or conjugate pupil of the optical system, the first and second relay rods having a same length; and
providing a lens between the first and second relay rods.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the lens includes a first relay objective and a second relay objective.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second relay rods and the lens has refractive index symmetry and Abbe number asymmetry about a pupil region.