Patent · US Expired

Capsule endoscope

US6918872B2 · kind B2 · utility

76Cited by
1References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 2003
Grant dateJul 19, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 17, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/0031
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A capsule endoscope is disclosed that includes means for illuminating an object, means for imaging the object, and a transparent cover having a center of curvature. The transparent cover covers the illumination means and the imaging means, and the imaging means includes an objective optical system and an image detecting element. The illumination means is positioned relative to the image detecting element, as viewed axially from the object side of the capsule endoscope, so that an area that is symmetrically positioned about the optical axis of the objective optical system from a light emitting area of the illumination means overlaps an area of the image detecting element, but does not overlap any areas of the image detecting element that are used for image detection.

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