Stereoscopic coupler for mechanically and optically coupling a stereo endoscope to a stereo endoscopic camera

1. A stereoscopic coupler for mechanically and optically coupling a stereoscopic endoscope having a left optical channel and a right optical channel to a portion of a stereoscopic camera having a left optical channel and a right optical channel so that the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the left optical channel of the stereoscopic camera and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the right optical channel of the stereos camera, the stereoscopic coupler comprising:

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope; and

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a portion of a stereoscopic camera;

wherein the stereoscopic coupler comprises:

a left optical channel comprising left optics;

a right optical channel comprising right optics;

a mechanical actuator for operation by a user; and

means for physically moving the left optics of the left optical channel and the right optics of the right optical channel as a single unit in response to movement of the mechanical actuator by the user;

wherein the means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope comprise:

an element for ensuring axial alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring axial alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler;

an element for ensuring horizontal alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring horizontal alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler; and

a releasable element for releasably securing the stereoscopic endoscope to the stereoscopic coupler so as to allow for rapid engagement and disengagement of the stereoscopic endoscope with the stereoscopic coupler.

2. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical actuator comprises a focusing ring.

3. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 2 wherein the left optical channel and the right optical channel are disposed about a longitudinal axis, and further wherein the focusing ring is disposed coaxially about the longitudinal axis.

4. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 2 wherein the means for moving the left and right optics as a single is configured to transfer circumferential movement of the focusing ring to longitudinal movement of the left and right optics.

5. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 4 wherein the means for moving the left and right optics as a single unit comprises a cam and a cam follower.

6. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 5 wherein the left and right optics are mounted to a carriage, and further wherein one of the cam and cam follower is connected to the carriage and the other of the cam and cam follower is connected to the focusing ring.

7. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 6 further comprising means for adjusting the amount of torque required to rotate the focusing ring.

8. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 7 wherein the cam is carried by a cam ring which is secured to the focusing ring, wherein the cam follower is carried by the carriage which is disposed within a load ring so that the carriage is longitudinally movable relative to the load ring but rotationally fixed relative to the load ring, and further wherein the means for adjusting the amount of torque required to rotate the focusing ring comprises an adjustable spring for forcing the load ring against the cam ring.

9. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 8 wherein the adjustable spring comprises a compression spring which is adjusted via a threaded plunger.

10. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic coupler is formed independently of the stereoscopic camera.

11. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic coupler is formed integral with a portion of the stereoscopic camera.

12. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a housing, and further wherein the stereoscopic coupler is formed integral with the housing of the stereoscopic camera.

13. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the element for ensuring axial alignment comprises a recess for receiving a counterpart projection on a stereoscopic endoscope.

14. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the element for ensuring axial alignment comprises a projection for receipt in a counterpart recess on a stereoscopic endoscope.

15. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the element for ensuring horizontal alignment comprises a recess for receiving a counterpart projection on a stereoscopic endoscope.

16. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the element for ensuring horizontal alignment comprises a projection for receipt in a counterpart recess on a stereoscopic endoscope.

17. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the releasable element comprises a bail.

18. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic coupler is formed independently of the stereoscopic endoscope.

19. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the stereoscopic coupler is formed integral with a portion of the stereoscopic endoscope.

20. A method for mechanically and optically coupling a stereoscopic endoscope having a left optical channel and a right optical channel to a portion of a stereoscopic camera having a left optical channel and a right optical channel so that the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the left optical channel of the stereoscopic camera and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the right optical channel of the stereoscopic camera, the method comprising:

providing a stereoscopic coupler for mechanically and optically coupling a stereoscopic endoscope to a portion of a stereoscopic camera, the stereoscopic coupler comprising:

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope; and

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a portion of a stereoscopic camera;

wherein the stereoscopic coupler comprises:

a left optical channel comprising left optics;

a right, optical channel comprising right optics;

a mechanical actuator for operation by a user; and

means for physically moving the left optics of the left optical channel and the right optics of the right optical channel as a single unit in response to movement of the mechanical actuator by the user;

wherein the means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope comprise:

an element for ensuring axial alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring axial alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler;

an element for ensuring horizontal alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring horizontal alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler; and

a releasable element for releasably securing the stereoscopic endoscope to the stereoscopic coupler so as to allow for rapid engagement and disengagement of the stereoscopic endoscope with the stereoscopic coupler;

mounting the stereoscopic coupler to the stereoscopic camera; and

mounting the stereoscopic endoscope to the stereoscopic coupler.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the stereoscopic coupler is mounted to the stereoscopic camera during manufacture.

22. A stereoscopic coupler for mechanically and optically coupling an endoscope to a portion of a camera, the stereoscopic coupler comprising:

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to an endoscope; and

means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a portion of a camera;

wherein the stereoscopic coupler comprises:

a pair of optics;

a mechanical actuator for operation by a user; and

means for physically moving the pair of optics as a unit in response to movement of the mechanical actuator by the user;

wherein the mechanical actuator comprises a focusing ring;

wherein the means for moving the pair of optics is configured to transfer circumferential movement of the focusing ring to longitudinal movement of the pair of optics;

wherein the means for moving the pair of optics comprises a cam and a cam follower;

wherein the pair of optics are mounted to a carriage, and further wherein one of the cam and cam follower is connected to the carriage and the other of the cam and cam follower is connected to the focusing ring;

further comprising means for adjusting the amount of torque required to rotate the focusing ring;

wherein the cam is carried by a cam ring which is secured to the focusing ring, wherein the cam follower is carried by the carriage which is disposed within a load ring so that the carriage is longitudinally movable relative to the load ring but rotationally fixed relative to the load ring, and further wherein the means for adjusting the amount of torque required to rotate the focusing ring comprises an adjustable spring for forcing the load ring against the cam ring.

23. A stereoscopic coupler according to claim 22 wherein the adjustable spring comprises a compression spring which is adjusted via a threaded plunger.