In vivo camera with multiple sources to illuminate tissue at different distances
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Publication Number
US-11103129-B2
Publication Date
2021-08-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
An in vivo endoscope illuminates tissue using multiple sources. Light from a short-range source exits a tubular wall of the endoscope through a first illumination region that overlaps an imaging region, and the light returns through the imaging region after reflection by tissue, to form an image in a camera. Light from a long-range source exits the tubular wall through a second illumination region that does not overlap the imaging region. The endoscope of some embodiments includes a mirror, and light from an emitter for the short-range source is split and reaches the first illumination region from both sides of an optical axis of the camera. Illuminating the first illumination region with split fractions of light results in greater uniformity of illumination, than illuminating directly with an un-split beam. The energy generated by each source is changed depending on distance of the tissue to be imaged.
Core Innovation
A device includes a camera enclosed within an endoscope housing, where the camera comprises a lens and has at least one optical axis intersecting the lens and the endoscope housing. A plurality of emitters are enclosed within the endoscope housing and are located around the camera, and electromagnetic radiation is emitted by at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters. A reflective surface is enclosed within the endoscope housing and is offset from the at least one optical axis so that the optical axis does not intersect the reflective surface.
The reflective surface is located in a path of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation so as to reflect the portion out through the endoscope housing. At least the portion of the electromagnetic radiation passes within the endoscope housing from the at least one emitter, at least going across the at least one optical axis to the reflective surface. The camera is positioned within the endoscope housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in the camera by at least reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the endoscope housing after reflection outside the endoscope housing.
A method of imaging emits electromagnetic radiation by at least one emitter in a plurality of emitters enclosed within an endoscope housing, where the plurality of emitters are located around a camera and the camera comprises a lens with at least one optical axis intersecting the lens and the endoscope housing. The method includes sensing an image in the camera, where an offset reflective surface enclosed within the endoscope housing reflects electromagnetic radiation out through the endoscope housing, and at least a portion of the image is created in the camera by reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the endoscope housing after reflection outside the endoscope housing.
Claims Coverage
The document portion provides three independent claims: an endoscope device, an imaging method, and an endoscope apparatus. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features repeatedly center on a camera (or imaging means) inside an endoscope housing, a plurality of emitters located around the camera, and an internal reflective surface offset from the camera optical axis to redirect emitted electromagnetic radiation out through the housing so that reflected radiation forms at least a portion of an image entering the housing after reflection outside the housing.
Offset reflective surface redirecting emitter radiation for image formation
A device comprising a camera enclosed within an endoscope housing, the camera comprising a lens and having at least one optical axis intersecting the lens and the endoscope housing; a plurality of emitters enclosed within the endoscope housing and located around the camera; wherein electromagnetic radiation is emitted by at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters; and a reflective surface enclosed within the endoscope housing, the reflective surface being offset from the at least one optical axis, the at least one optical axis does not intersect the reflective surface, the reflective surface being located in a path of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation so as to reflect the portion out through the endoscope housing; wherein at least the portion of the electromagnetic radiation passes within the endoscope housing from the at least one emitter, at least going across the at least one optical axis to the reflective surface; and wherein the camera is positioned within the endoscope housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in the camera by at least reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the endoscope housing after reflection outside the endoscope housing.
Sensing an image created by reflected emitter radiation via offset reflective surface
A method of imaging comprising emitting electromagnetic radiation by at least one emitter in a plurality of emitters enclosed within an endoscope housing; wherein the plurality of emitters are located around a camera, the camera comprising a lens, the camera having at least one optical axis intersecting the lens and the endoscope housing; wherein a reflective surface is enclosed within the endoscope housing, the reflective surface is offset from the at least one optical axis, the at least one optical axis does not intersect the reflective surface, and the reflective surface is located in a path of a portion of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one emitter in the plurality of emitters so as to reflect at least the portion of the electromagnetic radiation out through the endoscope housing; wherein at least the portion of the electromagnetic radiation passes within the endoscope housing from the at least one emitter to the reflective surface, at least going across the optical axis to the reflective surface; and sensing an image in the camera; wherein at least a portion of the image is created in the camera by at least reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the endoscope housing after reflection outside the endoscope housing.
Imaging means and emitter means with offset reflector positioned to form image portion
An apparatus comprising means for imaging enclosed within an endoscope housing, the means for imaging comprising a lens, the means for imaging having at least one optical axis intersecting the lens and the endoscope housing; means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, the means for emitting being enclosed within the endoscope housing, the means for emitting being located around the means for imaging; wherein electromagnetic radiation is emitted by the means for emitting; and means for reflecting enclosed within the endoscope housing, the means for reflecting comprising a reflective surface, the reflective surface being offset from the at least one optical axis, wherein the at least one optical axis does not intersect the reflective surface, the reflective surface being located in a path of at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation so as to reflect the portion out through the endoscope housing; wherein at least the portion of the electromagnetic radiation passes within the endoscope housing, from the means for emitting, at least going across the at least one optical axis to the reflective surface; wherein the means for imaging is positioned within the endoscope housing such that at least a portion of an image is formed in the means for imaging by at least reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the endoscope housing after reflection outside the endoscope housing.
Across the independent claims, the coverage focuses on an endoscope housing that encloses a camera (or imaging means) and multiple emitters positioned around the camera, with an internal reflective surface offset from the optical axis that redirects emitted electromagnetic radiation out through the endoscope housing. The claims require that reflected electromagnetic radiation entering the housing after reflection outside the housing is used to form at least a portion of the image in the camera (or imaging means).
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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