Endoscopes and methods relating to direct viewing of a target tissue
US6110106A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/413
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and methods that permit the direct viewing of induced tissue fluorescence or other response by a human viewer through an endoscope without the need for bulky and expensive auxiliary apparatus such as imaging devices, sensor arrays, analyzing systems and computer hardware and software. The apparatus and methods provide an excitation energy, such as blue light, that is transmitted to the target, and then the endoscope collects the emitted response, which is typically fluorescent light of a wavelength longer than the UV or blue light used to induce the fluorescence. The endoscope then transmits the response through a series of filters in the endoscope and directly to the eye of a human user.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.