Micro-endoscope and method of making same
AssigneeClear Image Technology, LLC
InventorsStefan Troller, Urban Schnell, Matthias Pfister, Michel Saint-Ghislain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A micro-endoscope and method of making the same includes a mounting housing, a camera module received within the mounting housing, and an encapsulation material interposed between the camera module and the mounting housing for fixedly mounting the camera module within the mounting housing and/or inhibiting the passage of light between the camera module and the mounting housing. The micro-endoscope further includes a light guide having the mounting housing received therein.
Claims21
An endoscope, comprising:
- a scope shaft, having an outer surface, and an inner surface;
- a camera module inside the scope shaft at a first end of the scope shaft, and having a light receiving surface imaging an area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- a light guide, having a light receiving end, receiving light for illuminating the area at the first end of the scope shaft, the light guide transmitting the light along the light guide from the light receiving end to the area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- wherein the light guide surrounds an inside area which is inside the light guide;
- and
- a heat conducting structure, inside the inside area of the light guide at a location between the light receiving end and the camera module, and located to and operative to absorb heat.
An endoscope, comprising:
- a scope shaft, having an outer surface, and an inner surface;
- a camera module inside the scope shaft at a first end of the scope shaft, and having a light receiving surface imaging an area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- a light guide, having a light receiving end, receiving light for illuminating the area at the first end of the scope shaft, the light guide transmitting the light along the light guide from the light receiving end to the area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- wherein the light guide surrounds an inside area which is inside the light guide;
- wherein a first section of the light guide changes progressively in thickness, forming a conical section, at the first section;
- and
- wherein a second section of the light guide has a constant thickness;
- a heat conducting structure, inside the first section of the light guide at a location between the light receiving end and the camera module, and located to and operative to absorb heat from the camera module.
A method of imaging using an endoscope, comprising:
- mounting a camera module in a scope shaft, having an outer surface, and an inner surface, the camera module inside the scope shaft at a first end of the scope shaft, and using a light receiving surface imaging an area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- using a light guide, having a light receiving end, for receiving light for illuminating the area at the first end of the scope shaft, the light guide also transmitting the light along the light guide from the light receiving end to the area at the first end of the scope shaft;
- wherein the light guide surrounds an inside area which is inside the light guide;
- and
- using a heat conducting structure, inside the inside area of the light guide at a location between the light receiving end and the camera module, to absorb heat from the camera module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.