EP0148034A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser endoscope apparatus
Assignee: Medical Dynamics Inc
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Filing: 1984-12-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-12-28
Abstract
Abstract @ A laser endoscope includes a micro-thin optic cable assembly (34) which may be inserted into a body cavity by micro-surgical or non-surgical procedures. A coherent jacketed fibre optical bundle is provided in the centre of the assembly having a diameter of no more than 3.5 mm with an optical lens system at the distal end (36) for reflecting an image of a portion of the interior of the cavity. A pair of single optical fibres are spirally wound around the cable; one of these fibres carries a laser light beam to the cavity and the other is for redundancy. The proximate end (38) of the optical cable assembly connects to a remote unit (R) wherein a laser diode light source is provided to direct a beam of light into the end (88) of one of the single optical fibres. A TV camera in the remote unit. together with suitable optics, transmit the image from the optical cable to a viewing screen on the remote unit.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Barath
- 👤 Steven K. Case
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B1/00; A61B1/00112; A61B1/00117; A61B1/00121; A61B1/00126; A61B1/00128; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B1/313; A61B1/317; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2461; G02B23/2469; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/2205; A61B2018/2211; A61B2018/2216; A61B2018/2244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An endoscopic cable assembly for use in viewing and/or treatment within body cavities by non-surgical or micro-surgical procedures, said cable assembly including a single optical fibre (46) for insertion into a body cavity and an interface connector (38) attached to a proximate end of the fibre for removable attachment to a remote unit (10) with a light beam from a laser light source in the remote unit; characterized by a coherent multi-fibre optical cable (40) of micro-thin diameter having a planar distal end (59) adjacent the distal end of the single optical fibre (46) for insertion into the body cavity, and a planar proximate end (69) adjacent the proximate end of the single optical fibre (46); by optical lens means (62) at the distal end of said optical cable to focus an image of a portion of the cavity on said distal end of said optical cable for transmission therethrough; and in that the interface connector (38) is attached to said proximate ends of said optical cable and said single fibre for removable attachment to the remote unit for respectively aligning said proximate end of said optical cable with an image display device (14) in the remote unit (10) to provide a viewable image of a portion of the body cavity, and aligning said proximate end of said single fibre with a light beam from a laser light source in the remote unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An endoscopic cable assembly for use in viewing and/or treatment within body cavities by non-surgical or micro-surgical procedures, said cable assembly including a single optical fibre (46) for insertion into a body cavity and an interface connector (38) attached to a proximate end of the fibre for removable attachment to a remote unit (10) with a light beam from a laser light source in the remote unit; characterized by a coherent multi-fibre optical cable (40) of micro-thin diameter having a planar distal end (59) adjacent the distal end of the single optical fibre (46) for insertion into the body cavity, and a planar proximate end (69) adjacent the proximate end of the single optical fibre (46); by optical lens means (62) at the distal end of said optical cable to focus an image of a portion of the cavity on said distal end of said optical cable for transmission therethrough; and in that the interface connector (38) is attached to said proximate ends of said optical cable and said single fibre for removable attachment to the remote unit for respectively aligning said proximate end of said optical cable with an image display device (14) in the remote unit (10) to provide a viewable image of a portion of the body cavity, and aligning said proximate end of said single fibre with a light beam from a laser light source in the remote unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for viewing and/or treatment within body cavities by non-surgical or micro-surgical procedures, said apparatus comprising a single optical fibre (46) for insertion into a body cavity; a laser light source (116) alignable with a proximate end of said single fibre (46) to transmit light to said distal end to illuminate the body cavity; and characterized by a coherent fibre optical cable (40) whose diameter is micro-thin having a planar distal end (59) adjacent distal end of the single optical fibre (46) for insertion into the body cavity, and a planar proximate end adjacent the proximate end of the single optical fibre; optical lens means (62) at the distal end of said optical cable to focus an image of a portion of the cavity on said distal end of said optical cable for transmission through said optical cable; optical focus means (132,134) connectable to said proximate end of said optical cable to focus an image of the portion of the body cavity reflected through said optical cable; and viewing means (136,14) connected to said focus means for displaying an image of the portion of the body cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
187 words
Apparatus for viewing and/or treatment within body cavities by non-surgical or micro-surgical procedures, said apparatus comprising a single optical fibre (46) for insertion into a body cavity; a laser light source (116) alignable with a proximate end of said single fibre (46) to transmit light to said distal end to illuminate the body cavity; and characterized by a coherent fibre optical cable (40) whose diameter is micro-thin having a planar distal end (59) adjacent distal end of the single optical fibre (46) for insertion into the body cavity, and a planar proximate end adjacent the proximate end of the single optical fibre; optical lens means (62) at the distal end of said optical cable to focus an image of a portion of the cavity on said distal end of said optical cable for transmission through said optical cable; optical focus means (132,134) connectable to said proximate end of said optical cable to focus an image of the portion of the body cavity reflected through said optical cable; and viewing means (136,14) connected to said focus means for displaying an image of the portion of the body cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, further including interface means (38) aligning said proximate end of said single fibre with said laser light source (116) and aligning said proximate end of said optical cable (46) with said optical focus means (132,134).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the viewing means comprises a TV camera (136) and a viewing monitor (14) for displaying an image of the image viewed by said T V camera; the interface means (38) comprising, in a remote viewing unit (R) housing the TV camera and monitor (14), an optical cable interface including optical focus means for focusing an image from an optical cable on said T V camera and a laser fibre interface for aligning a light beam from said laser light source (116) with the optical fibre; and wherein thejaser light source (116) is a laser diode for providing a beam of light to an optical fibre.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A remote viewing unit (R) for use with a laser endoscope, said unit comprising a TV camera (136); a viewing monitor (14) for displaying an image of the image viewed by said TV camera; an optical cable interface (130) including optical focus means (132,134) for focusing an image from an optical cable on said T V camera; a laser diode (116) for providing a beam of light to an optical fibre (46); and a laser fibre interface (110) for aligning a light beam from said laser diode with the optical fibre.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
A remote viewing unit (R) for use with a laser endoscope, said unit comprising a TV camera (136); a viewing monitor (14) for displaying an image of the image viewed by said TV camera; an optical cable interface (130) including optical focus means (132,134) for focusing an image from an optical cable on said T V camera; a laser diode (116) for providing a beam of light to an optical fibre (46); and a laser fibre interface (110) for aligning a light beam from said laser diode with the optical fibre.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A remote viewing unit, as claimed in claim 5, or apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical focus means includes a stationary optical system (132,134) within said remote unit (R) with which said optical cable is alignable; and means to movably adjust said camera (136) with respect to said stationary optical system to focus an image from said optical cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, further including a redundant optical fibre (48) having a distal end adjacent said distal end of said optical cable and a proximate end adjacent said proximate end of said optical cable; a pair of spaced optic fibre pins (88,90) in said interface means (38) aligned respectively with the ends of said single optic fibre and said redundant fibre; socket means in said laser fibre interface (110) for selectively receiving one of said optic fibre, pins in one end thereof and aligning one of them with the beam of light from said laser diode (116); and means (30) for selectively shifting said socket means for alignment with the desired one of said pins prior to insertion of said interface connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A cable assembly as claimed in claim 1, or apparatus as claimed in claim 2,3 or 4, comprising a redundant optical fibre (48) having a distal end adjacent said distal end of said optical cable and proximate end adjacent said proximate end of said optical cable; and a pair of spaced optic fibre pins (88,90) in said interface means (38) aligned respectively with the ends of said single optic fibre and said redundant fibre to be received in sockets in the remote unit (R).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cable assembly, or apparatus, as claimed in claim 7 or 8, further including at least one tubular passageway (54) extending along said optical cable from its proximate end to its distal end for supplying a fluid to temporarily clear away blood or other matter at the viewing site within the body cavity to enhance viewing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cable assembly, or apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and 7 to 9, further including an inner jacket (42) surrounding said optical cable, around which said single fibre is wound; and an outer jacket (44) surrounding said inner jacket and said single fibre.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cable assembly, or apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inner and outer jackets terminate short of said distal ends of said optical cable and said single fibre and wherein said distal end of said optical cable terminates short of said distal end of said single fibre, said cable assembly further including a tubular tip (36) having a central passageway lying along an axis with a first end (60) attached to said distal end of said jackets and a second end (64) coterminous with said distal end of said single fibre (46).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and 7 to 11, wherein said single fibre (46) is spirally wound around the outside of said optical cable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 and 7 to 11, wherein said single fibre (46) extends through the centre of said optical cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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