Multi camera endoscope assembly having multiple working channels
There is provided herein an endoscope assembly, the assembly comprising at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith, at least one side-pointing camera and at least one of side illuminator associated therewith, a first front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool and a second front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.
1. An endoscope assembly, the assembly comprising:
a substantially cylindrical fluid channeling component having a length and a height, the fluid channeling component having, along said height, a first fraction and a second fraction, wherein:
the first fraction extends outward along the length of the fluid channeling component, and comprises a housing that has encased therein a working channel extending along the length of said fluid channeling component, and the second fraction is a void;
an electrical assembly configured to fit within said second fraction, wherein the electrical assembly comprises an integrated circuit board having mounted thereon a front-pointing camera, a first side-pointing camera, and a second side-pointing camera; and
two front illuminators positioned adjacent the front-pointing camera, two first side illuminators positioned adjacent the first side-pointing camera, and two second side illuminators positioned adjacent the second side-pointing camera;
a tip cover section configured to be removably attachable to said fluid channeling component and configured to receive said electrical assembly, wherein the tip section comprises a front working channel configured to mate to said working channel of the fluid channeling component and provide a contiguous pathway for receiving a medical tool, optical windows configured to mate to said two front illuminators, optical windows positioned along a first side of the tip section and configured to mate to said two first side illuminators, and optical windows positioned along a second side of the tip section and configured to mate to said two second side illuminators.
2. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and at least one of said front illuminators.
3. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said side-pointing cameras and at least one of said side illuminators.
4. The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.
5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides.
6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are essentially perpendicular to a surface of said front camera.
7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side-pointing cameras forms an obtuse angle with said front camera.
8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side-pointing cameras forms an acute angle with said front-pointing camera.
9. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators comprises at least one discrete illuminator.
10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein each of said front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).
11. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light.
12. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light.
13. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light.
14. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light.
15. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths.
16. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras comprises an image sensor.
17. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a front fluid injector and a side fluid injectors connected to a same fluid supply channel.
18. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.
19. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said endoscope is a flexible endoscope.
20. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said endoscope is a gastroscope.
21. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein fields of view of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras are at least partially overlapping.
22. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said front and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 90 degrees or more.
23. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said front and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 120 degrees or more.
24. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said front and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a focal length of approximately 3-100 millimeters.