US5702249A — Modular intra-oral imaging system video camera

Claim 1

Independent Claim 126 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; c. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 126 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; c. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The camera of claim 1, further including an objective lens assembly, located in the optical path to said sensor assembly, for suitably tailoring initial characteristics of images captured by the camera.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The camera of claim 2, wherein said objective lens assembly includes a negative lens, for controlling the camera angle of view.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The camera of claim 2, wherein said objective lens assembly includes removal means, to permit selectively removing said objective lens assembly from the optical path to the sensor assembly, to provide two viewing characteristic sets for the camera.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 48 words

The camera of claim 2, wherein said objective lens assembly includes: a. a plurality of lenses; and b. selection means, to selectively place said lenses in and remove said lenses from the optical path to the sensor assembly, for providing a plurality of viewing capabilities for the camera.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 71 words

The camera of claim 2, further including: a. magnification changing means, b. aperture changing means, c. focusing means, and d. light dispersion changing means, wherein at least two of said magnification changing means, said aperture changing means, said focusing means, and said light dispersion changing means are set in fixed relationships, to selectably preset a plurality of sets of viewing characteristics of the camera for a plurality of standardized viewing situations.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The camera of claim 1, wherein said reflector is one or more member of the set consisting of mirrors and prisms.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 12 words

The camera of claim 1, wherein said reflector is a non-inverting prism.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The camera of claim 1, wherein said reflector is a roof prism.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 10 words

The camera of claim 1, further including magnification changing means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

The camera of claim 10, wherein said magnification changing means permits selection between preset values of magnification.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 10 words

The camera of claim 1, further including aperture setting means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The camera of claim 12, wherein said aperture setting means permits selection between preset values of aperture.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 9 words

The camera of claim 1, further including focusing means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The camera of claim 14, wherein said focusing means permits selection between preset values of focus.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The camera of claim 1, further including a main lens assembly, for suitably tailoring major characteristics of images captured by the camera.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 71 words

The camera of claim 16, further including: a. magnification changing means, b. aperture changing means, c. focusing means, and d. light dispersion changing means, wherein at least two of said magnification changing means, said aperture changing means, said focusing means, and said light dispersion changing means are set in fixed relationships, to selectably preset a plurality of sets of viewing characteristics of the camera for a plurality of standardized viewing situations.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 10 words

The camera of claim 1, further including optical filter means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The camera of claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly is a charge coupled device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The camera of claim 1, further including illumination means, for illuminating the area viewed by the camera.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 63 words

The camera of claim 20, wherein said illumination means further includes: a. a light source; and b. light guide means, having defined therein i. a source end, located proximate said light source, and ii. a terminal end located generally proximate said view port in the housing, to convey and suitably direct light energy from said light source to exit at said view port.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

The camera of claim 21, further including light dispersion means, located at either of the set of locations consisting of said source end and said terminal end of said light guide, to suitably tailor a field of illumination of said illumination means to encompass the field of view of the camera.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The camera of claim 22, further including light dispersion changing means, to suitably tailor illumination coverage provided by said illumination means over the camera viewing area.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 71 words

The camera of claim 1, further including: a. magnification changing means, b. aperture changing means, c. focusing means, and d. light dispersion changing means, wherein at least two of said magnification changing means, said aperture changing means, said focusing means, and said light dispersion changing means are set in fixed relationships, to selectably preset a plurality of sets of viewing characteristics of the camera for a plurality of standardized viewing situations.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

The camera of claim 1, wherein said utility conveying means further includes universal connection means, to join a conduit subsystem of said dental tool to said utility conveying means of the camera.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 156 words

A modular dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. an end module, having a view port; b. a main housing, having a distal end and a handle portion; c. attachment means, for securing said end module to said distal end of the main housing, to permit selectively changing the end module; d. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the main housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals image information which has entered the camera through said view port in the end module; e. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; and f. utility conveying means, for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 156 words

A modular dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. an end module, having a view port; b. a main housing, having a distal end and a handle portion; c. attachment means, for securing said end module to said distal end of the main housing, to permit selectively changing the end module; d. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the main housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals image information which has entered the camera through said view port in the end module; e. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; and f. utility conveying means, for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 66 words

The camera of claim 26, further including: a. an objective lens assembly, located at said view port of the end module, for suitably tailoring initial characteristics of images captured by the camera; and b. a main lens assembly, located in the main housing and in the optical path between said reflector and said sensor assembly, for suitably tailoring major characteristics of images captured by the camera.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 175 words

A modular dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor comprising: a. a frame, having a distal end and a proximal end; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the frame and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing; c. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; d. a sleeve, having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle portion, wherein i. said distal end of the sleeve includes a transparent window portion; e. attachment means, for connecting said proximal end of the sleeve to said proximal end of the frame when the frame is inserted into the sleeve, such that said window portion of the sleeve distal end is in the optical path to said sensor assembly; and f. utility conveying means, for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 175 words

A modular dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor comprising: a. a frame, having a distal end and a proximal end; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the frame and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing; c. a reflector located in the optical path to said sensor assembly and suitable for directing images from at least 90 degrees away from said longitudinal axis into said sensor assembly; d. a sleeve, having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle portion, wherein i. said distal end of the sleeve includes a transparent window portion; e. attachment means, for connecting said proximal end of the sleeve to said proximal end of the frame when the frame is inserted into the sleeve, such that said window portion of the sleeve distal end is in the optical path to said sensor assembly; and f. utility conveying means, for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 71 words

The camera of claim 28, further including: a. an objective lens assembly, located at said distal end of said frame, in the optical path to said sensor assembly, for suitably tailoring initial characteristics of images captured by the camera; and b. a main lens assembly, located in the frame, in the optical path between said reflector and said sensor assembly, for suitably tailoring major characteristics of images captured by the camera.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 112 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; c. a permanently integrated dental tool, for performing dental treatment while the camera is used to observe; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 112 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; b. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; c. a permanently integrated dental tool, for performing dental treatment while the camera is used to observe; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 113 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, including attachment means for in modular manner temporarily joining another dental tool with said camera; b. said housing having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; c. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 113 words

A dental video camera for use in displaying images from inside a patient's mouth onto a monitor, comprising: a. a housing, including attachment means for in modular manner temporarily joining another dental tool with said camera; b. said housing having defined therein i. a handle portion, and ii. a distal end, which includes a view port; c. a sensor assembly, mounted in said distal end of the housing and optically aligned substantially along a longitudinal axis through said housing, for converting to data signals images which have entered the camera through said view port; and d. utility conveying means for conveying power and control signals into and data signals out of the camera.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-12-29	2001-06-30	2001-12-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-12-29	2005-06-30	2005-12-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-12-29	2009-06-30	2009-12-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular intra-oral imaging system video camera

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