Patent US740077A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5929901A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5929901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Reduced area imaging devices incorporated within surgical instruments
Assignee: Micro-Imaging Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1997-10-06
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Granted: 1999-07-27
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Expires: 2017-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. In one configuration of the imaging device, the image sensor is placed remote from the remaining circuitry. In another configuration, all of the circuitry to include the image sensor is placed in a stacked fashion at the same location. In a first embodiment of the invention, the entire imaging device can be placed at the distal tip of an endoscope. In a second embodiment, the image sensor is remote from the remaining circuitry according to the first configuration, and wherein a control box can be provided which communicates with the image sensor and is placed remotely from the endoscope. In yet another embodiment, the imaging device can be incorporated in the housing of a standard medical camera which is adapted for use with traditional rod lens endoscopes. In any of the embodiments, the image sensor may be placed alone on a first circuit board, or timing and control circuits may be included on the first circuit board containing the image sensor. One or more video processing boards can be stacked in a longitudinal fashion with respect to the first board, or the video processing boards may be placed in the control box.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin L. Adair
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Adair
- 👤 Randall S. Adair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00131; A61B1/00135; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; A61B1/06; A61B1/0607; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/54; H04N23/555; H04N25/00; H04N25/70; H04N25/76; H10; H10W; H10W90/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A reduced area imaging device comprising: a first circuit board defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said first circuit board including an array of CMOS pixels on said first plane for receiving images thereon and wherein individual CMOS pixels within said array of CMOS pixels each include an amplifier, said first circuit board further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said first circuit board producing an analog pre-video signal; a pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said conductor having first and second ends, said first end connected to said first circuit board; a second circuit board lying in a second plane and longitudinally aligned with said first circuit board, said second circuit board being connected to said conductor at said second end thereof, said second circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal for reception by a standard video device; and a power supply electrically coupled with said first circuit board for driving said array of CMOS pixels, and said timing and control means, and electrically coupled to said second circuit board for driving said second circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A reduced area imaging device comprising: a first circuit board defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said first circuit board including an array of CMOS pixels on said first plane for receiving images thereon and wherein individual CMOS pixels within said array of CMOS pixels each include an amplifier, said first circuit board further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said first circuit board producing an analog pre-video signal; a pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said conductor having first and second ends, said first end connected to said first circuit board; a second circuit board lying in a second plane and longitudinally aligned with said first circuit board, said second circuit board being connected to said conductor at said second end thereof, said second circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal for reception by a standard video device; and a power supply electrically coupled with said first circuit board for driving said array of CMOS pixels, and said timing and control means, and electrically coupled to said second circuit board for driving said second circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A reduced area imaging device, as claimed in claim 1, further including: a supplementary circuit board electrically coupled with said first and second circuit boards for enhancing said pre-video signal prior to reception by said second circuit board, said supplementary circuit board being longitudinally aligned with said first and second circuit boards and being positioned so as not to substantially extend beyond said profile area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
A reduced imaging device comprising: an array of CMOS pixels defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon; a circuit board longitudinally aligned with and electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, said circuit board lying in a second plane which is offset from said first plane and substantially parallel to said first plane, said circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said timing and control means producing an analog pre-video signal, said circuit board further including circuitry means for receiving said analog pre-video signal from said timing and control means and converting said pre-video signal to a post-video output signal for reception by a video device; and a power supply electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, and said circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A reduced imaging device comprising: an array of CMOS pixels defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon; a circuit board longitudinally aligned with and electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, said circuit board lying in a second plane which is offset from said first plane and substantially parallel to said first plane, said circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said timing and control means producing an analog pre-video signal, said circuit board further including circuitry means for receiving said analog pre-video signal from said timing and control means and converting said pre-video signal to a post-video output signal for reception by a video device; and a power supply electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, and said circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device, as claimed in claim 3, further including: a supplementary circuit board communicating with said array of CMOS pixels and said circuit board for enhancing said analog pre-video signal, said supplementary circuit board being longitudinally aligned with said array of CMOS pixels and said circuit board and being positioned so as not extend substantially beyond said profile area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
239 words
An endoscope with integral imaging capability comprising: a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end and a central passageway extending therethrough; a handle connected to said proximal end of said tubular portion for grasping by a surgeon; at least one light fiber positioned around a periphery of said distal end for illuminating a surgical site; a CMOS image sensor lying in a first plane and positioned at said distal end of said tubular portion for receiving images of the surgical site, said CMOS image sensor defining a profile area, and said CMOS image sensor producing an image signal; circuitry means electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor for timing and control of said CMOS image sensor, said circuitry means for timing and control placed within said tubular portion; a video processor board spaced from and longitudinally aligned with said CMOS image sensor within said tubular portion and adjacent said distal end thereof, said video processor board lying in a second plane, said video processor board including circuitry means for processing said image signal and converting said image signal to a post-video signal, said video processor board being positioned so as not to extend substantially beyond said profile area; a conductor connected between said CMOS image sensor and said video processor board for transmitting said image signal to said video processor board; and a power supply electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor and said video processor board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
239 words
An endoscope with integral imaging capability comprising: a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end and a central passageway extending therethrough; a handle connected to said proximal end of said tubular portion for grasping by a surgeon; at least one light fiber positioned around a periphery of said distal end for illuminating a surgical site; a CMOS image sensor lying in a first plane and positioned at said distal end of said tubular portion for receiving images of the surgical site, said CMOS image sensor defining a profile area, and said CMOS image sensor producing an image signal; circuitry means electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor for timing and control of said CMOS image sensor, said circuitry means for timing and control placed within said tubular portion; a video processor board spaced from and longitudinally aligned with said CMOS image sensor within said tubular portion and adjacent said distal end thereof, said video processor board lying in a second plane, said video processor board including circuitry means for processing said image signal and converting said image signal to a post-video signal, said video processor board being positioned so as not to extend substantially beyond said profile area; a conductor connected between said CMOS image sensor and said video processor board for transmitting said image signal to said video processor board; and a power supply electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor and said video processor board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said conductor includes a single conducting element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said timing and control means is placed adjacent said image sensor and on said first plane with said image sensor; and wherein said image signal is a pre-video signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said timing and control means is placed on said second plane with said video processor board.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said power supply is a battery attached to said handle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first plane is offset from and substantially parallel to said second plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said second circuit board is positioned so as not to extend substantially beyond said profile area of said first circuit board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal is located on said second plane of said second circuit board.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, further including: a lens positioned at said distal end of said tubular portion and distally of said CMOS image sensor for producing a modified image on said CMOS image sensor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said CMOS image sensor lies in a first plane, and said video processor board lies in a second plane offset from and substantially parallel to said first plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said video processor board is positioned in longitudinal alignment with said CMOS image sensor so that said video processor board does not extend substantially beyond said profile area.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-01-25 | 2003-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-26 | 2007-01-25 | 2007-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-26 | 2011-01-25 | 2011-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |