Endoscope coupler with liquid interface

An endoscope for use with an optical coupler, said coupler having a forward end and a transparent coupler window at the base of a recess formed in said forward end, and a rearward end adapted to be mechanically and optically coupled to a camera, said endoscope consisting essentially of:

• an elongated probe having a distal end and a proximal end, said probe including a transparent endoscope window disposed at said proximal end, and means for positioning said endoscope window within the recess in the coupler in spaced relation to the coupler window;
• and
• means for cooperating with the recess in the coupler to retain a quantity of transparent liquid between said endoscope window and the coupler window.

In an assembly comprising an endoscope and a coupler for optically coupling the endoscope to an image forming optical device, wherein the endoscope includes an elongated optical probe and a connector disposed at a proximal end of the probe, wherein one of the coupler and connector defines a recess for axially receiving a male member comprised by the other of the coupler and connector, and wherein a first optical window is disposed at an interior end of the recess and a second optical window is disposed at the received end of the male member, the improvement comprising essentially of:

• cooperating spacing means on the male member and coupler defining a predetermined axial space between the optical windows when said male member is maximally inserted into said recess;
• and
• means for confining a quantity of optically transparent liquid in said recess to fill said predetermined axial space between the optical windows.