Sterile calibrating cap and methods for using the same on an endoscope

A system, comprising:

• an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal tip;
• an image sensor disposed in the distal tip;
• an integrating sphere cap, that includes a light pipe configured to receive light from an illumination source that is passed into an interior of the integrating sphere cap, configured to be disposed on the distal tip and further configured to be removed from the distal tip, the cap sealed to the distal tip and configured to maintain a sterile state of the distal tip of the endoscope until after the integrating sphere cap is used to calibrate the endoscope;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing data thereon that, when processed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• produce light from the illumination source disposed within the endoscope;
• and
• receive a first light reading from the image sensor to calibrate the endoscope.

A method for calibrating and preparing to operate a sterile single use (SSU) endoscope, the method comprising:

• disposing the endoscope in a sterile packaging, the endoscope comprising a removable cap covering a distal tip of the endoscope and the removable cap including an integrating sphere,
• sealing the removable cap to the distal tip to maintain a sterile state of the distal tip of the endoscope until after the integrating sphere is used to calibrate the endoscope;
• and
• sealing the sterile packaging, wherein the endoscope is configured to:
• connect to a processing unit, and
• perform a Dark Signal Non-Uniformity (DSNU) measurement.