Ingestible endoscopic optical scanning device
An ingestible scanning device includes, in an embodiment, a capsule housing having a transparent window and sized so as to be ingestible, a photo-sensing array located within the capsule housing, a mirror located within the housing and oriented to direct an image from a surface outside the transparent window to the photo-sensing array, and a light source for illuminating the surface outside the transparent window.
1. An ingestible scanning device, comprising:
an ingestible capsule housing having a transparent window;
a one-dimensional photo-sensing array comprising at least one photosensor located within the capsule housing;
a mirror located within the housing and oriented to direct an image from a surface outside the transparent window to the photo-sensing array;
a light source for illuminating the surface outside the transparent window,
wherein at least one of the mirror and the one-dimensional array is movable with respect to the housing; and
a cylindrical lens between the photo-sensing array and the mirror, the cylindrical lens being oriented so that its axis is parallel to the photo-sensing array to direct light from the mirror onto the photo-sensing array.
2. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is rotatable.
3. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the mirror is a cylindrically symmetrical reflective element or is an element combining reflective and refractive surfaces.
4. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is located within the capsule housing.
5. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is attached to an outer surface of the capsule housing.
6. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
7. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light distribution ring.
8. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein a focus position of the image is variable.
9. The ingestible scanning device of claim 1 , wherein a rotation rate of the mirror is variable.
10. An ingestible scanning device, comprising:
an ingestible capsule housing having a transparent window;
a photo-sensing array located within the capsule housing;
a mirror located within the housing and oriented to direct an image from a surface outside the transparent window to the photo-sensing array;
a light source for illuminating the surface outside the transparent window; and
a toroidal lens located around the photo-sensing array, the toroidal lens oriented to direct light from the light source onto the mirror