US4877016A — Video endoscopic microscope

Claim 1

Independent Claim 156 words

An improved endoscope including an extended side wall having distal and proximal ends comprising in combination: a first tube having distal and proximal ends extending the length of the endoscope, said distal end being wholly within the endoscope and adjacent the side wall at the distal end thereof; optical system means within said first tube including a lens at said distal end for magnifying objects of interest, said optical system means being capable of viewing an area up to 25 mm with a depth of field in excess of 10 mm; and viewing means coupled to said first tube and extending laterally from the endoscope at the proximal end thereof to provide a viewing port remote from the interior of the endoscope; whereby a magnified image of an area of interest accessible to the distal end of the endoscope can be viewed from a location that is laterally displaced from the side wall of the endoscope.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 156 words

An improved endoscope including an extended side wall having distal and proximal ends comprising in combination: a first tube having distal and proximal ends extending the length of the endoscope, said distal end being wholly within the endoscope and adjacent the side wall at the distal end thereof; optical system means within said first tube including a lens at said distal end for magnifying objects of interest, said optical system means being capable of viewing an area up to 25 mm with a depth of field in excess of 10 mm; and viewing means coupled to said first tube and extending laterally from the endoscope at the proximal end thereof to provide a viewing port remote from the interior of the endoscope; whereby a magnified image of an area of interest accessible to the distal end of the endoscope can be viewed from a location that is laterally displaced from the side wall of the endoscope.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The endoscope of claim 1, above, wherein said first tube is recessed from the distal end of the endoscope side wall by approximately 15 mm.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The endoscope of claim 2, above, wherein said lens has an offset of approximately 5°.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

The endoscope of claim 2, above, wherein said lens has a field of view of approximately 60°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The endoscope of claim 1, above, wherein said first tube proximal end is outside of the endoscope side wall at the proximal end thereof and passes through the side wall intermediate the ends.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

The endoscope of claim 1, above, further including a second tube having distal and proximal ends, extending the length of the endoscope, said distal end being wholly within the endoscope, said second tube carrying optical fibers and being adapted to connect to a light source for illuminating the field visualized by said optical means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The endoscope of claim 6, above, wherein said second tube proximal end is outside of the endoscope side wall at the proximal end thereof and passes through the side wall intermediate the ends.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

The endoscope of claim 1, above, further including a lumen having distal and proximal ends, extending the length of the endoscope, said distal end opening within the endoscope adjacent said first tube distal end for ventilating and cleaning said lens, said lumen being adapted to connect to a source of ventilating gas.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The endoscope of claim 8, above, wherein said lumen is wholly within the endoscope.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The endoscope of claim 8, above, wherein said lumen is wholly without the indoscope but penetrates the side wall to the interior in the region of said first tube distal end.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 144 words

An endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end for visualizing the surgical field to assist in microsurgical procedures comprising in combination: a. a light source within the endoscope for illuminating the field adjacent the distal end of the endoscope; b. a high resolution video camera having a sensitive image receiving area of from 7-10 mm in diameter; c. a high resolution video monitor coupled to said camera for displaying images impinging upon said image receiving area; and d. lens system means including a first tube integral with the endoscope, said lens system means having a field of view of an area ranging from 15 to 25 mm with a depth of field ranging from 10-20 mm; whereby magnified images of objects of interest adjacent the distal end of the endoscope can be displayed on said video monitor to aid in microsurgical procedures.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 144 words

An endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end for visualizing the surgical field to assist in microsurgical procedures comprising in combination: a. a light source within the endoscope for illuminating the field adjacent the distal end of the endoscope; b. a high resolution video camera having a sensitive image receiving area of from 7-10 mm in diameter; c. a high resolution video monitor coupled to said camera for displaying images impinging upon said image receiving area; and d. lens system means including a first tube integral with the endoscope, said lens system means having a field of view of an area ranging from 15 to 25 mm with a depth of field ranging from 10-20 mm; whereby magnified images of objects of interest adjacent the distal end of the endoscope can be displayed on said video monitor to aid in microsurgical procedures.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 37 words

The endoscope of claim 11, above, wherein the endoscope includes a lumen having a distal end adjacent the distal end of said lens system means for ventilating and clearing the distal end of said lens system means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The endoscope of claim 11, above, wherein the area of the displayed image at said sensitive image receiving area is approximately 7 mm.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 45 words

The endoscope of claim 11, above, wherein said light source includes a fiber optic bundle within a second tube integral with the endoscope and having a distal end at the distal end of the endoscope for illuminating the area visualized by said lens system means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The endoscope of claim 11, above, wherein said lens system means includes viewing means extending laterally from the endoscope and coupled to said video camera for applying a magnified image to said image receiving area.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The endoscope of claim 15, above, wherein said viewing means diverts images laterally through the wall of the endoscope near the proximal end thereof to provide a camera viewing port remote from the central opening of the endoscope.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The endoscope of claim 11, above, wherein said lens system means includes an objective lens at said first tube distal end adjacent the distal end of the endoscope.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The endoscope of claim 17, above, wherein said objective lens is recessed approximately 15 mm from the distal end of the endoscope.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 14 words

The endoscope of claim 17, above, wherein said objective lens is offset by 5°.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The endoscope of claim 17, above, wherein said objective lens has a field of view of approximately 60°.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-10-30	1993-05-01	1993-10-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-10-30	1997-05-01	1997-10-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-10-30	2001-05-01	2001-10-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Video endoscopic microscope

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