The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 24, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1996
John O Crawford, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Vista Medical Technologies, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US);
Abstract
An endoscope comprises inner and outer tubes, the inner metal tube containing electrical an objective unit components including a solid state video imaging unit. An electrically insulative sleeve is disposed around the inner tube for electrically isolating the inner tube and electrical components from the outer tube. In a preferred embodiment, an electrically insulative ring is disposed between a major portion of the inner tube and distal end portion of the inner tube to electrically isolate the inner tube distal end portion from the inner tube major portion and the electrical components. Thus, those endoscope components which are likely to contact a patient, i.e., the outer tube and the inner tube distal end portion, are electrically isolated from the inner tube and the electrical components therein, thereby preventing injurious electrical current flow to the patient.