Endoscope Circuit Board Assembly
There is provided herein a circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope comprising a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera, a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.
1 . A circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the assembly comprising:
a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera;
a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more circuit board holders configured to support said flexible illuminator circuit board, said camera circuit board or both.
3 . The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said circuit board holder comprises at least one niche configured to accommodate at least one of said illuminators, and/or at least one of said cameras.
4 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said camera circuit board is a foldable camera circuit board.
5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said camera circuit board is configured to carry a front-pointing camera and two side-pointing cameras.
6 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides.
7 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are essentially perpendicular to said front pointing camera surface.
8 . A tip section for a multi-camera endoscope the tip section 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 side illuminator associated therewith; and
a circuit board assembly comprising:
a camera circuit board configured to carry said least one front-pointing camera and said at least one side-pointing camera; and
a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry said at least one front illuminator and said at least one side illuminator.
9 . The tip section according to claim 8 , further comprising a fluid channeling component.
10 . The tip section according to claim 9 , wherein said fluid channeling component comprises:
at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning said at least one front-pointing camera and/or said at least one of front illuminator;
at least one side fluid injector configured for cleaning said at least one side-pointing camera and/or said at least one of side illuminator; and
a front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.
11 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein said tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras.
12 . The tip section according to claim 11 , wherein each of said two side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides.
13 . The tip section according to claim 11 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are essentially perpendicular to said front pointing camera surface.
14 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one front and side illuminators comprises a discrete illuminator.
15 . The tip section according to claim 14 , wherein said discrete illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).
16 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light.
17 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light.
18 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light.
19 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light.
20 . The tip section according to claim 8 , wherein said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths.
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