Solid state variable direction of view endoscope with rotatable wide-angle field for maximal image performance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9408527-B2
Application number	US-201213666534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2012
Priority date	Nov 1, 2012
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

An endoscope and endoscopic surgical system for improving the image resolution/performance of a solid state variable direction of view endoscope. The endoscope and endoscopic surgical system has an optical rotator element that optically rotates the entire wide-angle field so as to make any portion of the wide-angle field visible to an image sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope comprising:
a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis;
a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field;
an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field;
an optical rotator interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and the image sensor, the optical rotator being rotatable such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view;
a relay lens system interposed between the optical rotator and the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection; and
an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator;
wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis.

2. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the wide-angle objective-type lens transmits the captured light of the wide viewing field for reception by the optical rotator, and
wherein the optical rotator transmits the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection.

3. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.

4. The endoscope of claim 3 ,
wherein the wide-angle objective-type lens transmits the captured light of the wide viewing field to the relay lens system,
wherein the relay lens system transmits the captured light of the wide viewing field to the optical rotator,
wherein the optical rotator transmits the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection.

5. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising an image rotator, wherein the image rotator rotates the orientation of the sensor view.

6. The endoscope of claim 5 , wherein the image rotator is in communication with a processor for changing the orientation of the sensor view.

7. The endoscope of claim 6 , wherein the image rotator changes the orientation of the sensor view in accordance with a user input or with a predetermined algorithm.

8. The endoscope of claim 6 , wherein the processor changes the orientation of the sensor view in accordance with a user input or with a predetermined algorithm.

9. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the wide-angle objective-type lens continuously captures the light of the wide viewing field.

10. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a handle affixed to the proximal end of the body, and wherein the image sensor is disposed in the handle.

11. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising an illumination system, wherein the illumination system provides light to at least a portion of the wide viewing field.

12. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor continuously captures the light provided by the wide-angle objective-type lens.

13. The endoscope of claim 12 , wherein the image sensor captures only a partial amount of the light provided by the wide-angle objective-type lens.

14. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is selected from a group consisting of a hydraulic, mechanical, magnetic, electronic, or electrical actuator, and combinations thereof.

15. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the body of the endoscope is tapered.

16. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the relay lens system includes singlet and doublet lenses.

17. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical rotator is a rotational prism selected from the group consisting of: Dove prisms, reversion or “K” prisms, delta prisms, and Pechan prisms.

18. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for actuating the optical rotator, the controller configured to receive an input signal from an input device.

19. The endoscope of claim 18 , wherein the input device allows for selecting a region of interest within the wide viewing field, wherein the region of interest is not larger than the sensor view.

20. The endoscope of claim 19 , wherein the input device is selected from a group consisting of a knob, button, joystick, touchpad, touchscreen, foot pedal, gesture detection, voice control, and combinations thereof.

21. The endoscope of claim 20 , further comprising an input facility, the input facility selected from a group consisting of a computer, a cloud computing module and a display.

22. The endoscope of claim 21 , wherein the input facility involves moving the region of interest within the wide viewing field so as to select different portions of the wide viewing field for display.

23. The endoscope of claim 22 , wherein the moving of the region of interest comprises calculations by a processor to relate the selected new position of the region of interest to the physical parameters of the mechanics of the endoscope.

24. The endoscope of claim 23 , wherein the calculations comprise mathematical parameterization based on polar, Euclidean, or other appropriate coordinate systems.

25. The endoscope of claim 24 , wherein the calculations comprise mathematical parameterization based on any coordinate system.

26. An endoscopic surgical system comprising:
an input device;
an endoscope having:
a body having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end,
a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field,
an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field,
a relay lens system interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and an optical rotator, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection,
the optical rotator interposed between the relay lens system and the image sensor, wherein the optical rotator is rotated such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view,
an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator,
wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis;

a display for presenting to the user the selected portion of the sensor view corresponding to the region of interest in the wide viewing field;
wherein the input device allows a user to select a portion of the sensor view corresponding to a region of interest in the wide viewing field.

27. The endoscopic surgical system of claim 26 , wherein the en

Assignees

• Storz Karl Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Hoeg Hans David
• Duckett Iii George E

Classifications

• A61B1/044

  for absorption imaging · CPC title

• A61B1/06

  with illuminating arrangements · CPC title

• G02B27/642

  Optical derotators, i.e. systems for compensating for image rotation, e.g. using rotating prisms, mirrors · CPC title

• G02B26/0883

  the refracting element being a prism · CPC title

• A61B1/042

  characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera · CPC title