Endoscopic system including filter assembly

Inventors

Meyer, William H. • Zimmer, Christopher

Assignees

Karl Storz Imaging Inc

Abstract

A filter assembly is configured to optically couple a camera head to an endoscope. The filter assembly includes a first end adapted to be removably coupled to the camera head and a second end opposite and spaced apart from the first end, the second end adapted to be removably coupled to the endoscope. The filter assembly includes an optic housing disposed between the first end and the second end, the optic housing includes an optical path length maximizer and a first window. The first window has a first surface that is angled with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optic housing so as to minimize a narcissus reflection within the optic housing and an optical filter to reject laser irradiation.

Core Innovation

An endoscopic system is described in which an endoscope with a lens system and an exit pupil is used together with a camera head having an image sensor. The camera head is releasably connectable to the endoscope or to a filter assembly, and when connected to the endoscope an in-focus image is received from the endoscope at the image sensor. A filter assembly optically couples the camera head to the endoscope and includes mechanical releasable coupling between the camera head and a first end, and between the endoscope and a second end.

The filter assembly includes an optic housing disposed between the first end and the second end. The optic housing includes an optical path length maximizer and a first window, where the first window has a first surface angled with respect to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optic housing. The angled window surface is configured to mitigate narcissus reflections and maintain optical performance by controlling reflections produced by the window.

The optic housing and window arrangement are further described with window configurations that include angled and/or arcuate window surfaces, and with surfaces and coatings for controlling laser irradiation. The window(s) include first and optionally second coatings to reject predetermined wavelength bands, including centered wavelength laser bands identified in the description. A filter kit is also described with multiple interchangeable filter assemblies configured for different laser wavelengths, including removably replaceable ends/windows for cleaning and for wavelength changes.

Claims Coverage

The document provides one explicitly described independent claim (clm-00001). The independent claim is focused on mechanical optical coupling of a releasable camera head to an endoscope through a filter assembly, using an optic housing that includes an optical path length maximizer and a geometrically angled first window surface.

Across the provided material, the claim coverage centers on an endoscopic system where the camera head is optically coupled to the endoscope via a filter assembly with a dedicated optic housing. The key inventive structure is the inclusion of an optical path length maximizer in the optic housing together with a first window whose first surface is angled relative to a plane perpendicular to the optic housing longitudinal axis, supporting maintained in-focus imaging while addressing laser-related optical behavior.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications