Video laparoscope with sealed video processor module and illumination unit

A video laparoscope which comprises an elongated insertion tube which includes a lens assembly for focussing light which enters a distal end of the insertion tube onto a miniature video imager which produces an image signal that represents a target located distally of the insertion tube;

• a video processor module coupled by an umbilical to said insertion tube and including a housing, video processing circuitry entirely and sealably contained within the housing and receiving power from terminals of an electrical connector mounted on said housing and providing control and synchronizing signals to said video imager and processing the image signals therefrom to provide to output terminals of said electrical connector a standard-format video signal to be supplied to a video monitor to produce a picture of said target;
• a fiber optic light conduit having a bifurcated proximal end with two branches each projecting from said module at two respective spaced locations thereon, and extending distally from said module to carry illumination to be incident upon said target;
• and a light and power unit including a socket into which said video processor module is removably inserted, a power supply providing suitable electrical power to a mating electrical connector on said socket which contacts the electrical connector on said processor module;
• and a pair of spaced-apart light sources each providing illumination onto a respective one of the branches of said fiber optic conduit at one of said locations, such that in the case of failure of one of said light sources the remaining light source will continue to provide uninterrupted illumination of said target and a wiring harness within said light and power unit connecting the mating electrical connector of said socket to a video monitor.

In a video inspection system in which a visual image of a remote target is reproduced on a video monitor and in which a lens means focuses the image of said target onto a solid state imager which provides a video output;

• the improvement which comprises an illumination unit including a pair of spaced apart light sources whose light outputs are converged at respective foci;
• a module including a module housing, video circuit means entirely contained and sealed within the module housing for processing the video output from said imager to provide a standard format video signal suitable to feed directly to said monitor to reproduce said visual image thereon;
• a fiber optic bundle that is bifurcated within said module and having respective proximally extending end portions and extending distally to carry illumination to said remote target;
• means for releasably securing said module onto said illumination unit;
• and means on said module for positioning said end portions of said bifurcated fiber optic bundle at the respective foci of said illumination sources when said connector module is secured onto said illumination unit.