Optical viewing device
AssigneeEndotherapeutics
InventorsSteven D. Fantone, Peter F. Costa, William A. Holmes, Frederick H. Moll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for viewing a region within a body cavity or the like. The apparatus includes an elongate light pipe having a distal end and a proximal end, which light pipe illuminates the region to be viewed adjacent the distal end of the pipe. An objective lens system is carried at that distal end which in a preferred embodiment forms a focused real image of the illuminated region. This image is transmitted to the viewer through a series of relay lenses and, at the proximal end of the apparatus, through a viewing lens system. The light pipe and the lenses are composed of a polymeric material such as styrene, polycarbonate, acrylic, or the like, and are preferably aspheric lenses.
Claims34
Apparatus for viewing a region within a body cavity or the like, comprising:
- a light pipe having a distal end, a proximal end, and an elongate axis, designed to direct light from the proximal to the distal end to illuminate a region to be viewed near the pipe's distal end;
- carried at the distal end of the light pipe, an objective lens system comprising a plurality of polymeric objective lens elements and constructed to form an image of the region illuminated by the light pipe;
- a polymeric relay lens assembly mounted within the light pipe for relaying the image formed by the imaging system to a proximal region of the light pipe, wherein the relay lens assembly comprises symmetrical pairs of polymeric rod lenses arranged end-to-end within the light pipe, the light pipe structured to support and align the objective lens elements and the rod lenses;
- and
- carried adjacent such proximal region of the light pipe, a viewing lens system including a plurality of polymeric viewing lens elements constructed and arranged to allow viewing of the image relayed by the relay assembly.
An optic train useful in an endoscope, the optic train defined along a generally elongate axis and having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
- at the distal end of the optic train, an objective lens system including a plurality of polymeric objective lens elements;
- at the proximal end of the optic train, a viewing lens system comprising at least two polymeric viewing lens elements;
- and
- a series of polymeric relay lenses disposed end-to-end along the elongate axis and between the objective and viewing lens systems, wherein the relay lens assembly comprises symmetrical pairs of polymeric rod lenses placed end-to-end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.