Circon Corporation

Carl J Rebert

Frank D D'Amelio

Kenneth C Hancock

An endoscope having a distally heated distal lens for performing laparoscopic surgery is shown. The preferred embodiment of the endoscope is a laparoscope which includes a rigid elongated sheath tube which encloses means defining a fiber optic light carrying bundle formed of a plurality of optical fibers each of which have a distal end. The fiber optic bundle has a proximal end which is adapted to be operatively coupled to a light source having light energy including infrared radiation and a distal end which is located in the distal section of the sheath tube contiguous the distal lens. The fiber optic bundle has a selected number of the distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers treated to form an energy diverting member for directing thermal or infrared energy from a light source into the periphery of the distal lens to increase the temperature thereof to resist fogging of the distal lens when the distal section of the endoscope is inserted into a warm, moist area such as a body cavity. The laparoscope may include a fluid flow channel which terminates in a nozzle located at the distal tip for directing a fluid flow across the distal lens to remove image impeding material therefrom. The fluid is usually at a cooler temperature and the application of the cooler fluid to the distal ends necessitates the need for continuous heating of the distal end.

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Weston, CT, United States of America

Carl J Rebert