Capsule endoscope
US6855111B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 2, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/0607
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A capsule endoscope is provided with lighting means for illuminating the interior of a living body, an image pickup means for capturing an image of a site illuminated by the lighting means, and a transparent cover which houses the image pickup means and the lighting means within a sealed, cylindrical-shaped capsule case. The image pickup means includes an objective optical system having a depth of field. An object within the depth of field of the objective optical system is illuminated more evenly than possible with a single lighting means by arranging multiple lighting means at the periphery of the objective optical system and causing the beams from individual lighting means to overlap in specified ways so that a nearly uniform illumination of an object of interest is achieved. Light diffusers may be employed to diffuse the light from the light sources, and a color correction filter may be used.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.