Method and apparatus for evaluating the performance characteristics of endoscopes
AssigneeKarl Storz Endovision
InventorGeorge E. Duckett
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Abstract
An apparatus for evaluating performance of a test endoscope includes a plurality of light sources, each generating a respective beam of light which is transmitted through the test endoscope. The apparatus further has a grid formed with a plurality of evenly spaced and uniformly sized pinholes intercepting a beam of light. The grid is utilized to perform a field of view, image quality, distortion, depth of field and an angle of view tests of the test endoscope. The apparatus further has a fiber optic light guide having one of its ends bifurcated and designed so that the bifurcated ends have the same output for evaluating light transmission through the test endoscope.
Claims26
An apparatus for evaluating performance of a test endoscope, comprising
- a source generating a beam of light entering a distal end of the test endoscope;
- a grid consisting of a plurality of pinholes intercepting the beam of light at a predetermined distance from the distal end for evaluating field of view, image quality, distortion and depth of field of the test endoscope.
An apparatus for evaluating performance of a test endoscope, comprising
- a source generating a beam of light transmitted through the endoscope;
- a fiber optic light guide attached by one of opposite ends thereof to the source and having the other end bifurcated, so as one of the bifurcated ends is attached to the endoscope;
- a photo sensor rotatable between a first position, wherein it is aligned with another of the bifurcated ends for generating a first signal corresponding to an illumination output, and a second position, wherein the photo sensor is aligned with the endoscope at a predetermined distance therefrom for generating a second signal corresponding to an illumination output of the endoscope;
- and
- a controller for generating a third signal in response to the first and second signals corresponding to a percentage light transmission through the endoscope.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.