Lighthouse Imaging Corporation

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Dennis C Leiner

David C Shafer

Michael Bush

David Biolsi

A stereoscopic endoscope comprises a first lens train; a second lens train; a prism; and a continuous image sensor surface. The first lens train directs light along a first path through the first lens train and the prism to be incident on a first region of the continuous image sensor, and the second lens train directs light along a second path through the second lens train and the prism to be incident on a second region of the continuous image sensor.

Stereoscopic endoscope

A stereoscopic endoscope includes at least one illumination source disposed at a distal end portion in a position to project light to illuminate an object. The endoscope also includes an image capture assembly mounted at the distal end portion. The assembly includes first and second lens trains extending proximally from the distal end portion. The assembly includes an image sensor having a surface with a right side image area and a left side image area. The sensor surface lies in a plane substantially parallel to a plane in which the first and second lens trains lie. The assembly includes at least one optical element disposed to intercept light passing through the first and second lens trains. The optical element is configured to direct light exiting the first lens train to the right side image area and to direct light exiting the second lens trains to the left side image area.

Two side-by-side optical paths transmit stereoscopic right side and left side images onto the surface of a single image sensing chip. The single image sensing chip may be placed at various orientations with respect to the lens trains in the optical paths. In some embodiments a single prism is used to turn the light for both the right side and left side images onto the single image sensing chip. In other embodiments one prism is used to turn the light for the right side image and another prism is used to turn the light for the left side image, and the reflective surfaces of the two prisms are substantially coplanar such that the right side and left side images are incident on the single image sensor chip.

An endoscope includes an outer tube having a sharpened distal end and a retractable sleeve slidably disposed in the outer tube. An image conduit is attached to the distal end of the retractable sleeve for imaging any object in contact with the distal tip of the image conduit.

Endoscope

An endoscopic coupler by which the rotary and/or linear motion of an external ring is transferred via magnetic interaction of specially configured continuous plastic magnets to a lens resident in a hermetically sealed housing to effect focusing and/or zooming action of the lens without mechanically breaching the integrity of the hermetic seal thereby making the coupler particularly suitable for withstanding the rigors of autoclaving.

Magnetically actuated endoscope coupler

An endoscopic illumination tester is provided for testing illumination quality of a light source. The endoscopic illumination tester includes an optical bridge that is removably interlockable with the light source. The endoscopic illumination tester includes an integrating sphere that is removably interlockable with the optical bridge. The endoscopic illumination tester may further engage a light guide connectable between the optical bridge and the light source. An endoscope may be inserted between the optical bridge and the integrating sphere.

System and method for an illumination-quality test

The invention uses optics and precision mechanisms to quantitatively assess the performance of medical endoscopes. By viewing standardized optical targets under well-controlled conditions, the optical quality of endoscopes can be easily determined in much the same fashion as getting one's eyes tested at the optometrist. The actual design, however, is much more complicated than your optometrist's eye chart and different types of endoscopes from different manufacturers require customization of the target geometry, the viewing distance, and the viewing angle. Also, there are several optical characteristics beyond image sharpness that need to be assessed, requiring other unique test geometries, including contrast, distortion, and vignetting. Clinically significant measurements are performed with simplicity and cost-effectiveness through the use of relatively inexpensive optical components and an embedded processor and graphical display system.

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Cape Elizabeth, ME, United States of America

Dennis C Leiner