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Publication Number
US-7699772-B2
Publication Date
2010-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A visual means of an endoscope comprising at least one optical system or composite optical system arranged at a front area of the endoscope. The at least one optical system or the at least one composite optical system realizes an aperture angle of more than 180° and is arranged such that the field of vision thereof reaches both beyond the normal to the direction of movement and beyond the longitudinal axis of the endoscope pointing ahead.
Core Innovation
A visual means of an endoscope is described that provides a direction of movement and a normal to the direction of movement. The endoscope has an endoscope head located at a distal end of an endoscope shaft, and a central working duct centrally formed in the endoscope head that opens at a front end section of the endoscope head.
At least three optical systems are arranged in the endoscope head, each realizing an aperture angle of more than 180°, and the optical systems are disposed such that their fields of vision collectively reach beyond the normal to the direction of movement. All of the optical systems are arranged along an orbit around the central working duct and are aligned obliquely to a longitudinal axis so that the fields of vision overlap in a front area of the endoscope, thereby forming a closed visual scanning field over a particular spherical segment around the endoscope head.
The described architecture forms total panoramic imagery by transmitting imaging from simultaneous single pickups to an image processing station using a computer to generate a total image. Free-shape lenses are introduced to reduce dead ranges, including a prism-based optical design and non-circular vision cone shapes to minimize residual blind spots or dead range spots between overlapping fields.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines a visual means for an endoscope with a central working duct and at least three obliquely arranged optical systems whose fields overlap to form a closed visual scanning field over a spherical segment. The remaining dependent claims refine how the aperture angles, alignment angles, imaging capture and transmission, and optical lens structure are realized, and further constrain the duct geometry.
A visual endoscope with a central working duct opening at the front end section
An endoscope shaft having a distal end; an endoscope head located at the distal end of the endoscope shaft; and a central working duct centrally formed in the endoscope head that opens at a front end section of the endoscope head.
A closed visual scanning field formed by overlapping fields from at least three optical systems with aperture angle >180°
At least three optical systems arranged in the endoscope head, each having a field of vision, and each comprising at least one image capture device; wherein the endoscope has a direction of movement and a normal to the direction of movement; wherein the at least three optical systems realize an aperture angle of more than 180°; wherein the at least three optical systems are disposed such that the fields of vision collectively reach beyond the normal to the direction of movement; and wherein the fields of vision overlap in a front area so that over a particular spherical segment around the endoscope head, a closed visual scanning field is formed.
Orbit arrangement of optical systems around the central working duct with oblique alignment to the longitudinal axis
All of the at least three optical systems are arranged along an orbit around the central working duct in the endoscope head, and wherein all of the at least three optical systems are aligned at an angle obliquely to a longitudinal axis of the endoscope.
Aperture angle constraint for each optical system
The at least one optical system has an aperture angle between 120° and 145°.
Oblique alignment angle range relative to the forward direction of movement
The optical systems are aligned at an angle of 40° to 50° relative to the endoscope’s forward direction of movement.
Single-picture capture with transmission to an image processing station for digital total-image formation
The optical systems each capture a single picture and transmit it via image transmission means to an image processing station for digital formation of a total image.
Free-shape lens in each optical system
The optical systems each have at least one free-shape lens.
Central working duct formed along the central longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft
The central working duct is formed along the central longitudinal axis of the endoscope shaft.
The claim set centers on a visual endoscope head with a centrally opened working duct and at least three optical systems disposed on an orbit around the duct. The optical systems have aperture angle more than 180° and are obliquely aligned so that overlapping fields form a closed visual scanning field over a particular spherical segment in the front area. Dependent refinements specify aperture and alignment angle ranges, single-picture capture with transmission to an image processing station for total-image formation, and optical design features including free-shape lenses that reduce dead ranges.
Stated Advantages
Enables a closed visual scanning field to be formed over a particular spherical segment around the endoscope head in the front area.
Provides fields of vision that collectively reach beyond the normal to the direction of movement.
Reduces dead ranges and minimizes residual blind spots or dead range spots between overlapping fields using free-shape lenses.
Enables total panoramic imagery by digital formation of a total image from image transmission from single pickups to an image processing station.
Documented Applications
Visual detection beyond the normal to the direction of movement in a front area of the endoscope head, including imaging coverage around a particular spherical segment.
Remote image processing to form total panoramic imagery from simultaneous single pickups.
Use of optical systems with overlapping fields and free-shape lenses to reduce dead ranges and minimize residual blind spots.
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