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US 4,784,144 AGranted
Optical fiber image sensor
AssigneeSumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
InventorsKimizo Ono, Koichi Tsuno, Mitsuru Nishikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical fiber sensor is composed of an outer portion generally in the form of a tube which constitutes an illumination light transmission path. Inside the tube is formed or inserted an image path for directing image light back to an observation point. A longitudinal hole may be formed beside or surrounding the image path for conducting a fluid to the observed location. The sensor is especially suitable for medical image catheter or endoscopic usage.
Claims37
A surgical device used in procedures in which said device is inserted into body tissue, said device comprising:
- a source of illumination light, a single first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space which completely surrounds the outer periphery of said second light transmission path, said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other and thereof;
- one end of both said first and second light transmission paths existing at a site under optical scrutiny;
- said first light transmission path including a transparent plastic tube for transmitting illumination light to said site to be illuminated, and said second light transmission path including a light receiving optical fiber inserted into said illumination light transmitting transparent plastic tube.
A surgical device used in procedures in which said device is inserted into body tissue, said device comprising;
- a single first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space which completely surrounds the outer periphery of said second light transmission path, said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other end thereof;
- one end of both said first and second light transmission paths existing at a site under optical scrutiny;
- said second path including an image fiber, an image pickup lens being disposed o an axial line of said image fiber for focusing a picture image onto an end surface of said image fiber, and said first path including a light guide disposed substantially coaxially with said image fiber so as to surround said image fiber and said image pickup lens, said image pickup lens and the forward end portion of said image fiber being fixed in a cylindrical rigid sleeve so as to constitute a sub-assembly composed of said image pickup lens, said image fiber and said cylindrical rigid sleeve, and said light guide being made of a single material formed into an integral and substantially cylindrical shape such that said sub-assembly of said image pickup lens, said image fiber and said cylindrical rigid sleeve are inserted into and fixed in said light guide.
A surgical device used in procedures in which said device is inserted into body tissue, said device comprising;
- a single first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space which completely surrounds the outer periphery of said second light transmission path, said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other end thereof;
- one end of both said first and second light transmission paths existing at a site under optical scrutiny;
- wherein said second light transmission path branches from said first light transmission path through a hole formed therein passing through a side wall thereof to said longitudinal space.
A surgical device used in procedures in which said device is inserted into body tissue, said device comprising;
- a source of illumination light, a single first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space which completely surrounds the outer periphery of said second light transmission path, said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other end thereof;
- one end of both said first and second light transmission paths existing at a site of an object under optical scrutiny;
- further including a branch portion structure, said first path comprising an illumination light transmission line for transmitting illumination light and said second path comprising an information transmission line for transmitting information light received from an object, said respective transmission lines branching out from said branch portion, at which branch portion an end surface of said illumination light transmission line closely contacts an end surface of an optical fiber bundle for leading illumination light from said source of illumination light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.