Patent · US Expired

Miniaturized focusing optical head in particular for endoscope

US7221824B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 2002
Grant dateMay 22, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2562/146
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An optical head for equipping the distal end of a flexible optical fiber bundle, designed to be urged into contact with an analyzing surface and including optical elements for focusing an excitation signal into a so-called excitation focal point located at a specific depth beneath the analyzing surface and for sampling a signal backscattered by the excitation focal point which is carried back by the fiber bundle. The head includes an optics-holder tube wherein are inserted on one side the distal end portion of the fiber bundle and on the other optical elements, the latter including a plate placed in contact with the end of the fiber bundle whereof the index is close to that of the fiber core and a focusing optical block, an output window being further provided adapted to provide index adaptation so as to eliminate parasitic reflection occurring on the analyzing surface.

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