Image-erecting barrel rotator for articulated optical arm

In combination, an articulated optical arm adapted to optically link to a viewing station the eyepiece of an endoscopic telescope which views an internal region, said arm including a series of sections mechanically interhinged and optically intercoupled by joints, a rotatable image-erecting barrel and a terminal eyepiece, the last section in the series being optically coupled through said rotatable image-erecting barrel to said terminal eyepiece, said arm being adjustable by an operator so that the endoscope may be extended, retracted or otherwise adjusted with respect to the internal region whereby any aspect of the internal region may be clearly viewed at the viewing station, the image transmitted through the arm undergoing circumferential displacement about the optical axis in a direction and to a degree that depends on this adjustment, and a barrel rotator comprising:

• A. a primary assembly provided with a sleeve which telescopically receives and clamps onto said barrel and including a bi-directional motor operatively coupled to said sleeve to rotate the barrel either in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the polarity of power supplied thereto;
• and
• B. a remote control station connected to the primary assembly and including selective means to supply power to the motor in a polarity and for a period effecting turning of the barrel in a direction and to an extent causing erection of the image presented through said terminal eyepiece.