# US 12,178,397 B2 · Sterile calibrating cap and methods for using the same on an endoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,397 B2 - Document ID: US12178397B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/834,729 - Filed: 2022-06-07 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-07 - Assignees: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc. - Applicants: KARL STORZ Imaging, Inc. - Inventors: Ray Ubelhart - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178397B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements} - A61B 1/00137: {End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs} - A61B 1/00057: {provided with means for testing or calibration} - A61B 1/0011: {Manufacturing of endoscope parts} - A61B 1/00144: {Hygienic packaging} - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/0676: {at distal tip of an endoscope} - A61B 1/0684: {using light emitting diodes [LED]} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - H04N 17/002: {for television cameras} - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - H04N 25/63: applied to dark current - 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) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An endoscope includes a distal tip with a sterile cap disposed on the distal tip. The sterile cap reduces the exposure of the distal tip to contamination and includes an integrating sphere that enables calibration of an image sensor disposed in the endoscope. By enabling calibration of the image sensor while the sterile cap remains on the distal tip of the endoscope, the image sensor can be calibrated while maintaining the sterility of the endoscope. The sterile cap can be disposed on the distal tip of the endoscope under sterile conditions, placed in a sterile packaging, and can be removed just before a medical procedure to reduce the risk of exposing the endoscope to contamination. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device, comprising: an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal tip, the endoscope including an image sensor disposed at least partially in the distal tip; and a cap configured to be disposed on the distal tip of the endoscope, the cap including an integrating sphere, the integrating sphere including a light pipe configured to receive light from a light source that is passed into an interior of the integrating sphere, 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 is used to calibrate the endoscope. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the image sensor captures a first light reading, and wherein a processor determines, based on the first light reading, at least one of a Dark Signal Non-Uniformity (DSNU) measurement or a Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) measurement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the cap is aligned on the distal tip such that light propagating within the integrating sphere is captured by the image sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) in the distal tip of the endoscope. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the light source is also a primary light source for the endoscope. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein one or more keying surfaces are used to align the cap with the distal tip, aligning thereby the light source for the integrating sphere with the light pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein an outside surface of the cap is opaque. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the image sensor captures a first light reading, and wherein a processor determines, based on the first light reading, at least one of a Dark Signal Non-Uniformity (DSNU) measurement or a Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) measurement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the cap is configured to maintain a sterile environment around the distal tip of the endoscope until a seal is broken. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the illumination source includes a light emitting diode (LED), and wherein the integrating sphere cap includes a light pipe that channels the light produced by the LED into an interior of the integrating sphere cap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein a mirrored surface reflects the light passing through the light pipe into the interior of the integrating sphere cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the integrating sphere cap is aligned with the distal tip with at least one keying surface such that the light emitted by the LED is directed to the light pipe, and wherein light propagating within the integrating sphere cap is measured by the imaging sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the integrating sphere cap is substantially spherical, and wherein the light pipe isolates the LED from the image sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the data further cause the processor to calibrate the image sensor, and wherein the calibrating of the image sensor further comprises: determining, based on the first light reading, data related to a Fixed Noise Pattern (FNP); and determining, based on the data, a first adjustment to an interpretation of image data received from the image sensor to compensate for the FNP. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the FNP includes at least one of a Dark Signal Non-Uniformity (DSNU) measurement or a Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) measurement. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the endoscope is further configured to: illuminate, with a light emitting diode (LED) disposed within the distal tip, the integrating sphere; perform a Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU) measurement; and store a set of calibration constants on a memory of the processing unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the removable cap is configured to be removable from the distal tip of the endoscope to expose the distal tip.