Multi-component endoscope and disposable endoscope system
An endoscope is provided that has a first component having an LED that emits light and a second component having a proximal end, a distal end, an image capturing element, and a light guide. The proximal end is coupled to the first component. The image capturing element being arranged at the distal end. The light guide comprising an optical fiber extending through the second component. The LED is coupled to the proximal end such that the light is injected into the optical fiber and is conducted from the LED at the proximal end to the distal end and to emit the light at the distal end. The optical fiber has a cross section of at least 80 μm and has a polymer-based coating or a protective sheathing made of a polymer-based tube material arranged on an outer surface.
1 . An endoscope comprising:
a first component having a proximal end, a distal end, a light source comprising an LED chip that emits light, a data and/or image processing unit and an LED driver;
a second component having a proximal end, a distal end, an image capturing element, at least one signal return line to the data and/or image processing unit and a light guide, the proximal end being detachably coupled to the distal end of the first component, the image capturing element being arranged at the distal end, the light guide comprising an optical fiber extending through the second component, wherein the LED chip is coupled to the proximal end of the second component so that the light is injected into the optical fiber and is conducted from the LED chip at the proximal end of the second component to the distal end of the second component to emit the light at the distal end,
wherein the optical fiber has a cross section of at least 80 μm, and
wherein the optical fiber has a polymer-based coating, or a protective sheathing made of a polymer-based tube material arranged on an outer surface; and a housing disposed at the distal end of the second component, wherein the housing has a surface facing away from the distal end of the second component, the surface having a center, wherein the surface has cut-out sections to position the image capturing element in a desired location and to position the optical fiber at a location around the image capturing element, wherein the cut-out sections in the surface of the housing comprise a cut-out section at an outer surface, and wherein the cut-out section at the outer surface has obliquely shaped sidewalls.
2 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-based coating or the protective sheathing is on parts or sections of the outer surface of the optical fiber.
3 . The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a plug-in connector formed at the proximal end of the second component, wherein the LED chip is positioned to inject light into the optical fiber formed as an integrated component of the plug-in connector.
4 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers.
5 . The endoscope of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises not more than twenty optical fibers.
6 . The endoscope of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers comprises not more than ten optical fibers.
7 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the image capturing element comprises a camera chip.
8 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the image capturing element comprises a camera chip and the endoscope further comprises a power supply line for electrically powering the camera chip.
9 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the cross section of the optical fiber is up to 1000 μm.
10 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is a step-index glass fiber comprising a glass composition that is free, except for unavoidable traces, of a material selected from a group consisting of lead, heavy metals, antimony, arsenic, critical elements, Cr(VI), and any combinations thereof.
11 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber has a numerical aperture (NA) in air of at least 0.7.
12 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-based coating or the protective sheathing comprises a compound selected from a group consisting of acrylate, polyurethane, polyimide, epoxy, polyamide, ethylene, tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, poly-xylene-based compound, and any mixtures thereof.
13 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-based coating or the protective sheathing is a coating selected from a group consisting of a dip-coating, a spray-coating, an extrusion coating, and a low-pressure deposition coating.
14 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the polymer-based coating or the protective sheathing has a thickness between at least 5 μm and at most 100 μm.
15 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the optical fiber is deformed at the distal end of the second component as compared to the optical fiber at the proximal end of the second component.
16 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the LED chip is coupled to the proximal end of the second component in a butt joint.
17 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a polymer material having a color selected from a group consisting of opaque colors, dark-colored, and black colored.
18 . The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the first component and the second component are releasably connected.
19 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the housing only has cut-out sections to position the image capturing element in a desired location proximal the center of the surface of the housing, and to position the optical fiber at locations around the image capturing element.
20 . The endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein the cut-out section in the surface of the housing for the image capturing device positions the image capturing device proximal the center of the surface of the housing, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers are located in cut-out sections in the housing in a position selected from the group consisting of inside the housing, on an outer surface of the housing, and a combination thereof.
21 . An endoscope comprising:
a first component comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and containing a light source comprising an LED chip that emits light, an LED driver, and at least one of a data unit and an image processing unit; and
a second component comprising a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and containing an image capturing element, at least one signal return line to the data and/or image processing unit and a light guide, the proximal end being detachably coupled to the distal end of the first component, the image capturing element being arranged at the distal end, the light guide comprising an optical fiber extending through the second component, wherein the LED chip is coupled to the proximal end of the second component so that the light is injected into the optical fiber and is conducted from the LED chip at the proximal end of the second component to the distal end of the second component to emit the light at the distal end, wherein
a housing is disposed at the distal end of the second component, wherein the housing has a surface facing away from the distal end of the second component, and wherein the surface of the housing facing away from the distal end of the second component has cut-out sections to position the image capturing element in a desired location in the surface and to position the optical fiber at a location around the image capturing element, wherein the cut-out sections in the surface of the housing comprise a cut-out section at an outer surface, and wherein the cut-out section at the outer surface has obliquely shaped sidewalls.
22 . The endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the cut-out section in the surface of the housing for the image capturing device positions the image capturing device proximal a center of the surface of the housing, wherein the optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers are located in a position selected from the group consisting of inside the housing, on an outer surface of the housing, and a combination thereof.
23 . The endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers and the cut-out sections in the housing for positioning the optical fibers are designed and configured to position the plurality of optical fibers around at least a portion of the image capturing device, and wherein the plurality of optical fibers is located on an outer surface of the housing.
24 . The endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the surface of the housing only has cut-out sections to position the image capturing element in a desired location proximal a center of the surface of the housing, and to position the at least one optical fiber at locations around the image capturing element.
25 . The endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the optical fiber is directly bonded to the housing.
26 . The endoscope according to claim 25 , wherein the optical fiber directly bonded to the housing using a transparent adhesive.
27 . The endoscope according to claim 21 , wherein the housing is formed from an opaque, light blocking material.
28 . The endoscope according to claim 27 , wherein the housing is formed from an injection molded polymer material.
29 . The endoscope according to claim 28 , wherein the polymer material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyamide (PA).