Patent · US Expired

Hand-held endoscopic viewing system

US5951463A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
32References
26Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 1998
Grant dateSep 14, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B1/042
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A hand held endoscopic viewing system including a viewing assembly, an eyepiece assembly, and a handle is disclosed. The components are releasably mounted for ease of use and cleaning. The viewing assembly incorporates a fiber optic image bundle for carrying an image to the eyepiece assembly. The proximal end of the image bundle terminates in a coupling assembly that couples the eyepiece assembly to the viewing assembly such that the proximal end of the image carrying bundle is held against a window on the eyepiece assembly. The eyepiece assembly includes focusing optics that define a focal plane at the distal plane of the window for focusing and magnifying the image that is carried to the proximal end of the image bundle. The handle includes a light source and a power source and supports the eyepiece assembly and the viewing assembly at two points.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.