Stereo endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11805985-B2
Application number	US-202017094186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2020
Priority date	Nov 13, 2019
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A stereo endoscope for capturing a first image which is provided to be observed by a first eye and a second image which is provided to be observed by a second eye, including a shaft with a distal end region, a first image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the first image, and a second image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the second image. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged offset relative to one another in a direction which is parallel to at least either a light-sensitive layer of the first image sensor or a light-sensitive layer of the second image sensor and which is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis the distal end region of the shaft. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are oriented in opposite directions.

First claim

I claim:

1. A stereo endoscope for capturing a first image which is provided to be observed by a first eye and a second image which is provided to be observed by a second eye, comprising:
a shaft with a distal end region;
a first image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the first image;
a second image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the second image,
wherein both the first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal end region,
wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are oriented in opposite or substantially opposite directions,
wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged offset relative to one another in a first offset direction which is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the distal end region of the shaft, and wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged further offset relative to one another in a second offset direction which is orthogonal to both image sensors and shaft to the first offset direction.

2. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first image sensor has a first rectangular image capture region,
an image of a straight line which is parallel to a stereo base of the stereo endoscope in the light-sensitive layer of the first image sensor is inclined in relation to straight edge sections of the rectangular image capture regions.

3. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the distal end region of the shaft comprises two components which are the same or substantially the same and which each have a cylindrical form and a substantially semicircular cross section.

4. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 3 , wherein an interface between the two components is neither parallel nor orthogonal to a stereo base of the stereo endoscope.

5. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 3 , wherein one of the components comprises:
a substantially closed lateral surface,
a cutout, which is open toward the other component and in which at least either the first image sensor or the second image sensor is arranged.

6. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first image sensor, which is arranged in the first component, or the circuit board thereof protrudes into a cutout in the second component and the second image sensor, which is arranged in the second component, or the circuit board thereof protrudes into a cutout in the first component.

7. The stereo endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are equidistant from a distal end of the shaft in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the distal end region.

8. A stereo endoscope for capturing a first image which is provided to be observed by a first eye and a second image which is provided to be observed by a second eye, comprising:
a shaft with a distal end region;
a first image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the first image;
a second image sensor in the distal end region of the shaft, for capturing the second image;
a first reflecting surface for reflecting light;
a second reflecting surface for reflecting light;
a first beam path with a first straight section, which extends along the direction of light propagation to the first reflecting surface, and a second straight section, which extends from the first reflecting surface to the first image sensor;
a second beam path with a first straight section, which extends along the direction of light propagation to the second reflecting surface, and a second straight section, which extends from the second reflecting surface to the second image sensor;
wherein the first straight section and the second straight section of the first beam path are arranged in a first beam path plane,
wherein the first straight section and the second straight section of the second beam path are arranged in a second beam path plane, which differs from the first beam path plane,
wherein a direction of light propagation of light in the second straight section of the first beam path and a direction of light propagation of light in the second straight section of the second beam path are opposite or substantially opposite to one another;
wherein a light-sensitive layer of the first image sensor and a light sensitive layer of the second image sensor are neither parallel nor orthogonal to a base plane, in which the first straight section of the first beam path and the first straight section of the second beam path are located.

9. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor are arranged at opposite corners of a parallelogram and the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface are arranged at two further opposite corners of the parallelogram in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the distal end region of the shaft, wherein the sides of the parallelogram form an acute angle at the first opposite corners and form an obtuse angle at the two further opposite corners.

10. The stereo endo scope as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second straight section of the first beam path is arranged next to the second image sensor.

11. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
the first image sensor has a first rectangular image capture region,
an image of a straight line which is parallel to a stereo base of the stereo endoscope is inclined in the light-sensitive layer of the first image sensor in relation to straight edge sections of the rectangular image capture regions.

12. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the distal end region of the shaft comprises two components which are the same or substantially the same and which each have a cylindrical form and a substantially semicircular cross section.

13. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 12 , wherein each of the two components respectively contains either the first beam path or the second beam path in full or to a large extent.

14. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 12 , wherein an interface between the two components is neither parallel nor orthogonal to a stereo base of the stereo endo scope.

15. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 12 , wherein one of the components comprises:
a substantially closed lateral surface,
a cutout, which is open toward the other component and in which at least either the first image sensor or the second image sensor is arranged.

16. The stereo endoscope as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the first image sensor, which is arranged in the first component, or the circuit board thereof protrudes into a cutout in the second component and the second image sensor, which is arranged in the second component, or the circuit board thereof protrudes into a cutout in the first component.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Se & Co Kg

Inventors

• Forster Jonas

Classifications

• A61B1/00193 Primary

  adapted for stereoscopic vision · CPC title

• A61B1/05

  characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion · CPC title

• A61B1/00165 Primary

  with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics (A61B1/07 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B1/00009

  of image signals during a use of endoscope · CPC title

• G02B23/2415

  Stereoscopic endoscopes · CPC title