Endoscope attachment for changing angle of view

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope having imaging optics with a defined angle of view, said sheath comprising:

• an elongated tubular member including proximal and distal portions, said proximal portion dimensioned to at least partially enclose an endoscopic portion of an endoscope;
• a prism mount at least partially positioned within said distal portion of said elongated tubular member, said prism mount including at least one opening in a side peripheral wall portion thereof;
• and
• a prism positioned within said prism mount and being supported by portions of said prism mount defining said opening in the side peripheral wall portion, to respectively align with the imaging optics of the endoscope, said prism changing the angle of view of the endoscope imaging optics.

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope having imaging optics with a defined angle of view, which comprises:

• an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a longitudinal axis, the distal end portion configured to be positioned adjacent a distalmost portion of an endoscope imaging optics;
• a prism mount mounted to the distal end portion of the elongated member;
• a prism disposed within the prism mount to respectively align with the imaging optics of the endoscope, the prism changing the angle of view of the imaging optics to provide an inclined angle of view angularly oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member;
• an integral illumination means independent of the endoscope for transferring illuminating light;
• and
• means associated with the prism mount for directing light emitted by the illumination means into the inclined angle of view.

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope having imaging optics with a defined angle of view, said sheath comprising:

• an elongated member defining a bore configured and dimensioned for enclosing an elongated endoscopic portion of an endoscope, said elongated member terminating in a distal end portion and having means for changing the angle of view of the endoscope imaging optics to define an inclined angle of view relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member;
• and
• an integral illumination system independent of the endoscope for providing illuminating light;
• and
• means associated with said illumination system for directing light emitted by said illumination system in general alignment with the inclined angle of view.

A system for changing an angle of view of imaging optics of an endoscope, which comprises:

• an endoscopic sheath including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and defining a longitudinal axis, said proximal end portion configured and dimensioned to substantially enclose an endoscopic portion of an endoscope, said distal end portion sealingly attached to said proximal end portion and being configured and dimensioned to be positioned adjacent a distalmost portion of an endoscope imaging optics, said distal end portion of said endoscopic sheath including means for changing the angle of view of the endoscope imaging optics to provide an inclined angle of view relative to the longitudinal axis;
• illumination means integral with said endoscopic sheath for providing illuminating light to said distal end portion of said endoscopic sheath, said illumination means extending from said distal end portion of said endoscopic sheath to at least said proximal end portion of said endoscopic sheath;
• means associated with said illumination means for directing light emitted by said illumination means in general alignment with the inclined angle of view:
• and
• connecting means for connecting said illumination means to an external light source.

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope having imaging optics with a defined angle of view, which comprises:

• an elongated member including proximal and distal portions, said proximal portion dimensioned to at least partially enclose an endoscopic portion of an endoscope;
• an illumination system including a plurality of optical fibers extending at least the length of said elongated member for providing illuminating light;
• and
• a prism mount supported by said distal portion of said elongated member, said prism mount having a prism mounted thereto to respectively align with the imaging optics of the endoscope to change the angle of view of the endoscope imaging optics, said prism mount including a channel dimensioned to accommodate distal end portions of said optical fibers.

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope comprising:

• an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a bore configured and dimensioned to accommodate an endoscopic portion of an endoscope, the elongated member further including a longitudinal channel formed in a side wall thereof;
• an integral illumination system for transferring illuminating light from an external light source to at least the distal end portion of the elongated member, the illumination system at least partially accommodated within the longitudinal channel formed in the side wall of the elongated member;
• and
• means associated with the illumination system for directing light emitted by the in general alignment with an inclined field of view angularly offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.

An endoscopic sheath for an endoscope which comprises:

• an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions and defining a bore configured and dimensioned for enclosing an endoscopic portion of an endoscope;
• means for changing an angle of view of endoscope imaging optics of the endoscope to provide an inclined angle of view angularly offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member;
• and
• an integral illumination system associated with the elongated member for transferring illuminating light from an external light source to the distal end portion of the elongated member, the illumination system configured and dimensioned to direct light in general alignment with the inclined angle of view.