Stereoscopic endoscope arrangement

Claim 3

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) right and left optic means oriented in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath and positioned to gather right and left images at said distal end and further communicating said images to proximal end; (c) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images; (d) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (e) said stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; (f) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means; and (g) mono/stereo switch means connected to said video signal switching means and selectively operable to communicate the video signals from one of said cameras to both of said right and left monitors.

Claim 4

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) right and left optic means oriented in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath and positioned to gather right and left images at said distal end and further communicating said images to proximal end; (c) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images; (d) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (e) said stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; (f) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means; and (g) mono/stereo switch means connected to said video signal switching means and selectively operable to communicate the video signals from one of said cameras to both of said right and left monitors.

Claim 5

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity allowing viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said body cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending thorugh said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; and (f) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images and including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; (g) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means; and (h) mono/stereo switch means connected to said video signal switching means and selectively operable to communicate the video signals from one of said cameras to both of said right and left monitors.

Claim 6

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity allowing viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said body cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending thorugh said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; and (f) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images and including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; (g) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means; and (h) mono/stereo switch means connected to said video signal switching means and selectively operable to communicate the video signals from one of said cameras to both of said right and left monitors.

Claim 7

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity; (b) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end to gather right and left images at said distal end, extending through said sheath, and communicating said images to said proximal end; (c) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (d) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras to display images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (e) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means.

Claim 8

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity; (b) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end to gather right and left images at said distal end, extending through said sheath, and communicating said images to said proximal end; (c) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (d) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras to display images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (e) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means.

Claim 9

A device as set forth in claim 4 including: (a) a remote video monitor selectively interconnected with one of said video cameras through said video signal switching means for displaying images sensed by one of said cameras at a location remote from said cameras.

Claim 10

A device as set forth in claim 14 including: (a) computer means interconnected with said video signal switching means for digitizing and storing said images and for retreiving previously digitized and stored images and texts from said computer means for display on said monitors.

Claim 11

A device as set forth in claim 4 including: (a) video recorder means connected to said video signal switching means for recording signals representing said images and for playing back previously recorded video images for display on said monitors.

Claim 12

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said bocy cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (f) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images and including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (g) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means.

Claim 13

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said bocy cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (f) stereoscopic viewing means optically coupled to said right and left optic means for stereoscopic viewing of said images and including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (g) video signal switching means interconnected between said cameras and said monitors, said switching means providing access to said video signals and providing for the display on said monitors of images represented by video signals other than said video signals representing images gathered by said optic means.

Claim 14

A device as set forth in claim 8 including: (a) a remote video monitor selectively interconnected with one of said video cameras through said video signal switching means for displaying images sensed by one of said cameras at a location remote from said cameras.

Claim 15

A device as set forth in claim 8 including: (a) computer means interconnected with said video signal switching means for digitizing and storing said images and for retreiving previously digitized and stored images and texts from said computer means for display on said monitors.

Claim 16

A device as set forth in claim 8 including: (a) video recorder means connected to said video signal switching means for recording signals representing said images and for playing back previously recorded video images for display on said monitors.

Claim 17

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said body cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (f) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (g) a head worn harness having said video monitors mounted thereon to operatively transfer the images displayed respectively thereon to the right and left eyes of a viewer wearing said harness, said harness being adapted such that said viewing means is supported entirely by the head of the viewer.

Claim 18

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity therethrough; (b) light channel means extending through said sheath and communicating light to said distal end for illumination of said body cavity; (c) a light source optically connected to said light channel means and supplying light therethrough for illumination within said body cavity; (d) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end and extending through said sheath for gathering right and left images at said distal end and communicating said images to said proximal end; (e) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signals; (f) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras for displaying images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (g) a head worn harness having said video monitors mounted thereon to operatively transfer the images displayed respectively thereon to the right and left eyes of a viewer wearing said harness, said harness being adapted such that said viewing means is supported entirely by the head of the viewer.

Claim 19

A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein: (a) said optic means includes a pair of flexible, coherent fiber optic image guides; and (b) said sheath is flexible whereby said endoscope arrangement is flexible.

Claim 20

A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein: (a) said video cameras are color video cameras; and (b) said video monitors are color video monitors.

Claim 21

A device as set forth in claim 12 including: (a) a surgical tool channel extending through said sheath for insertion of an endoscopic surgical tool therethrough into said body cavity.

Claim 22

A device as set forth in claim 12 including: (a) at least one fluid channel extending through said sheath for the communication of a fluid with said body cavity.

Claim 23

A device as set forth in claim 16 including: (a) a fluid valve positioned in said fluid channel for controlling the flow of said fluid through said fluid channel.

Claim 24

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity; (b) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end to gather right and left image at said distal end, extending through said sheath, and communicating said images to said proximal end; (c) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signal; (d) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras to display images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (e) light source means including light channel means extending through said sheath to illuminate said body cavity for viewing therein.

Claim 25

A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath having a distal end for insertion into a body cavity and a proximal end for positioning external of said cavity to allow viewing within said body cavity; (b) right and left optic means positioned in spaced apart relation at said distal end to gather right and left image at said distal end, extending through said sheath, and communicating said images to said proximal end; (c) a right video camera and a left video camera optically coupled respectively to said right and left optic means and converting images sensed therethrough to respective electronic video signal; (d) stereoscopic viewing means including a miniature right video monitor and a miniature left video monitor connected respectively to said right and left cameras to display images represented respectively by said video signals, said monitors being positioned for stereoscopic viewing of the images gathered by said optic means; and (e) light source means including light channel means extending through said sheath to illuminate said body cavity for viewing therein.

Claim 26

A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein said stereoscopic viewing means includes: (a) a head worn harness having said video monitors mounted thereon to operatively transfer the images displayed respectively thereon to the right and left eyes of a viewer wearing said harness.

Claim 27

A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein: (a) said optic means includes a pair of flexible, coherent fiber optic image guides; and (b) said sheath is flexible whereby said endoscope device is flexible.

Claim 28

A device as set forth in claim 18 wherein: (a) said video cameras are color video cameras; and (b) said video monitors are color video monitors.

Claim 29

A device as set forth in claim 18 including: (a) a surgical tool channel extending through said sheath for insertion of an endoscopic surgical tool therethrough into said body cavity.

Claim 30

A device as set forth in claim 18 including: (a) at least one fluid channel extending through said sheath for the communication of a fluid with said body cavity.

Claim 31

A device as set forth in claim 23 including: (a) a fluid valve positioned in said fluid channel for controlling the flow of said fluid through said fluid channel.