Abstract A perspective viewing endoscope (11) having a perspective illumination attachment fitted to produce shades corresponding to concavo-convex surface details of an object within a body cavity, so that the object having the concavo-convex surface details can be seen to be three-dimensional features defined by shading. In an endoscope wherein illuminating light is projected into a body cavity to observe or photograph the interior of the body cavity by the reflected light if the interior of the body cavity is illuminated from only one direction by substantially parallel illuminating light beams projected from a light-projecting surface, the reflected light received at an observation window positioned near the illuminating light-projecting surface prevents any shading corresponding to concavo-convex surface features of the object being formed by the illuminating light beams, and as shading cannot be observed, the image appears very flat. In the present invention, illuminating light is projected directly from a surface (17) of an insertion sheath (13) of the endoscope (11) and also reflected by an inclined surface (24) to provide illuminating light beams dispersed over a predetermined angle and not arranged in parallel formation, whereby shading of the image corresponding to concavo-convex surface details of an object within a body cavity can be produced, and the object within the body cavity can be studied for three-dimensional features by examination of the shading.
A perspective viewing endoscope provided with a perspective illumination attachment in the form of an extension sheath fitting in removable manner on the insertion sheath of an endoscope, said insertion sheath housing an illuminating optical system and an observing optical system comprising an objective system, image transmitting means and eyepiece system, so that illuminating light beams may be fed into the body cavity by the above mentioned illuminating optical system and an object within the body cavity illuminated by the above mentioned illuminating optical system may be focused to form an image by the above mentioned objective system and transmitted to the eyepiece by the above mentioned image transmitting means to observe the body cavity interior, wherein an inner wall of the extension sheath is inclined to an illuminating light projecting surface formed at the tip of the insertion sheath within the tip of the extension sheath to provide a reflecting surface diverting into the body cavity the illuminating light beams from the inclined light projecting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A perspective viewing endoscope provided with a perspective illumination attachment in the form of an extension sheath fitting in removable manner on the insertion sheath of an endoscope, said insertion sheath housing an illuminating optical system and an observing optical system comprising an objective system, image transmitting means and eyepiece system, so that illuminating light beams may be fed into the body cavity by the above mentioned illuminating optical system and an object within the body cavity illuminated by the above mentioned illuminating optical system may be focused to form an image by the above mentioned objective system and transmitted to the eyepiece by the above mentioned image transmitting means to observe the body cavity interior, wherein an inner wall of the extension sheath is inclined to an illuminating light projecting surface formed at the tip of the insertion sheath within the tip of the extension sheath to provide a reflecting surface diverting into the body cavity the illuminating light beams from the inclined light projecting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A perspective viewing endoscope as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the outer tip of the extension sheath is rounded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A perspective viewing endoscope as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the reflecting surface is curved, dished or provided with a rough surface so as to provide even illumination over the field of view.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A perspective viewing endoscope as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that sealing means provide a seal between the endoscope insertion sheath and the outer sheath at the rear end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A perspective viewing endoscope as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the reflecting surface is formed by an inner wall surface of the sheath, or by a material plated or coated thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A perspective viewing endoscope, as claimed in Claim 3, characterised in that the rough surface is formed by the provision of grooves, or by bonding fine grains on to the surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.