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US 6,960,161 B2Granted
Unified electrical and illumination cable for endoscopic video imaging system
AssigneeKARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
InventorsMarc R. Amling, David Chatenever, Bruce L. Kennedy, Barry A. Mirrer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly for an endoscope apparatus, which includes a plug removably insertable in a receptacle, is disclosed. The plug has a molded body incorporating a light cable and an electrical connector in a fixed spatial relationship within the molded body.
Claims50
A video imaging system, comprising:
- a camera head for generating image data;
- a camera control unit;
- a light source for generating light mounted within the camera control unit;
- a cable, for connecting said camera head to said camera control unit, said fist cable including a single protective jacket enclosing:
- at least one channel for transmitting information between said camera head and said camera control unit,
- a light guide in the cable for transmitting light from the light source to an object, wherein said camera head is receptive of light reflected from the object thereby generating the image data, and
- an endoscope;
- wherein the cable engages the camera head so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera head and transmits the light to said endoscope through an intermediate coupling mounted to said camera head and a cable connecting said intermediate coupling and said endoscope.
5 more elements
A video imaging system, comprising:
- a camera head for generating image data;
- and
- a light source mounted within a camera control unit;
- a cable including a single protective jacket enclosing:
- at least one electrical channel for transmitting the image data and a control signal in the nature of camera operating information from said camera head to the camera control unit,
- a light guide in the cable for transmitting light from the light source to an object, wherein said camera is receptive of light reflected from the object thereby generating the image data,
- an endoscope;
- and
- wherein the cable longitudinally engages the camera head so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera head and transmits the light to said endoscope through an intermediate coupling mounted to said camera head and a cable connecting said intermediate coupling and said endoscope.
6 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera including an imager for receiving photonic energy from an object;
- a control unit receptive of a control signal from the camera, the control unit generating a command signal for controlling the camera;
- a cable including at least one channel for bi-directionally transmitting the command and control signals between the camera and the control unit;
- a light source mounted within the control unit for generating the photonic energy;
- a light guide in the cable for transmitting the photonic energy to the object, wherein the cable longitudinally engages the camera so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera;
- a jacket enclosing the at least one channel and the light guide;
- and
- an endoscope;
- wherein the photonic energy is transmitted to said endoscope through an intermediate coupling mounted to said camera and a cable connecting said intermediate coupling and said endoscope.
6 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera for generating image data;
- a control unit for controlling the camera;
- a cable including a channel for transmitting information between the camera and the control unit, wherein the information comprises at least a control signal in the nature of camera operating information;
- and
- a light guide in the cable for transmitting light from a light source mounted within the control unit to an object, wherein the camera is receptive of light reflected from the object thereby generating the image data;
- and
- an endoscope;
- wherein the cable longitudinally engages the camera so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera and transmits the light to said endoscope through an intermediate coupling mounted to said camera head and a cable connecting said intermediate coupling and said endoscope.
5 more elements
A video imaging system comprising:
- a camera for generating image data;
- a control unit for controlling the camera;
- a cable including a channel for transmitting information between the camera and the control unit, wherein the information comprises at least a control signal in the nature of camera operating information;
- a guide element spanning the control unit and coupled to a light source and the cable and;
- a light guide positioned in and aligned along the guide element and the cable for transmitting light through the control unit from the light source to an object, wherein the cable longitudinally engages the camera so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera and wherein the camera is receptive of light reflected from an object thereby generating the image data.
2 more elements
A video imaging system, comprising:
- a camera head for generating image data;
- a camera control unit;
- a light source for generating light;
- a first cable, for connecting the camera head to the camera control unit, the cable including a single protective jacket enclosing:
- at least one channel for transmitting information between the camera head and the camera control unit;
- a second cable extending between the light source and the first cable through the camera control unit directly engaging the first cable;
- and
- a light guide positioned in the first and second cables for transmitting light from the light source to an object through the camera head, wherein the first cable longitudinally engages the camera head so as to direct light longitudinally completely through the camera head and wherein the camera head is receptive of light reflected from the object thereby generating the image data.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.