Disposable interchangeable angle light guide system
OwnerJohn L. Balainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interchangeable light guide system employs a multiplicity of disposable light guides each configured to provide a pre-selected off-axis angle of observation. The light guides are slid over the shaft of an endoscope of the zero angle endoscope and optically coupled with the probe to provide the off-axis observation angle. The specific observation angles are defined by the angles of the refractive surfaces of a prism. The proximal end of each of the adapters includes a knob to facilitate rotation of the light guide about the optical axis of the endoscope probe to orient the off-axis observation angle at a selected angular direction about the probe axis. The light guides are low cost disposable devices.
Claims20
An endoscope adaptor comprising:
- an elongated zero angle optical probe shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a longitudinal optical axis;
- and
- a light guide comprising a sleeve slidably receivable over said shaft and mounting a prism assembly which encloses the distal end of said shaft and optically couples with said shaft, said prism assembly comprising a prism having a first surface disposed at a first angle to said optical axis and having a second surface transverse to the optical axis to produce an observation axis at an observation angle to said shaft optical axis and a light extender having the same first angle to extend an illumination path, and said sleeve being rotatable about said optical axis to vary the angular direction of the observation angle.
A light guide assembly for a zero angle endoscope comprising:
- a sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end and forming a light channel defining a longitudinal axis;
- a knob disposed at said proximal end;
- and
- a prism assembly interposed along said longitudinal axis adjacent said distal end and comprising a prism having a first planar surface which forms an angle with an orthogonal plane to said longitudinal axis and a longitudinally spaced second surface oriented substantially orthogonally to said longitudinal axis.
A method of changing the observation angle of a zero angle endoscope having a shaft defining an optical axis comprising:
- selecting a light guide having a prism corresponding to the desired observation angle;
- sliding the light guide over the shaft of the endoscope;
- optically coupling the light guide prism with the shaft;
- and
- optically coupling light from the endoscope with the light guide for illumination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.