Wide angle flexible endoscope
US8771177B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/00183
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flexible endoscope having a wide-angle lens that has an optical axis that is angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the endoscope, such that the optical axis resides at an angle greater than zero degrees to the longitudinal axis. The wide-angle lens system simultaneously gathers an endoscopic image field at least spanning the longitudinal axis and an angle greater than ninety degrees to the longitudinal axis. The endoscope includes an imager comprising an imaging surface area that receives at least a portion of endoscopic image transmitted by the wide-angle lens system and produces output signals corresponding to the endoscopic image field and image forming circuitry that receives the output signal and produces an image signal. The wide-angle lens endoscope has a flexible distal end or tip.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.