Multi-camera endoscope

1. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:

a tip section comprising:

a front-pointing camera and one or more front illuminators associated therewith, wherein said front-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 3-100 millimeters;

a first side-pointing camera and one or more illuminators associated therewith, wherein said first side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters;

a second side-pointing camera opposing said first side-pointing camera, and one or more illuminators associated therewith, wherein said second side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters; and

an integrated circuit board adapted to supply the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera with electrical power and derive images from each of the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera, wherein the fields of view of said front-pointing camera and first side-pointing camera and the fields of views of said front-pointing camera and second side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an object of interest viewed via said first side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said first side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera and such that an object of interest viewed via said second side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said second side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera.

2. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a shaft and a bending section attached to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip section is attached to a distal end of the shaft, has an end surface and a side surface extending along its length.

3. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 2 wherein said front-pointing camera and the one or more front illuminators are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through said end surface.

4. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 2 wherein the first side-pointing camera and the one or more illuminators associated therewith are outwardly positioned to receive and emit light, respectively, through the side surface.

5. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 2 wherein a center of said first side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface of the tip section.

6. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said one or more front illuminators.

7. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said first side-pointing camera and said one or more illuminators associated therewith.

8. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool.

9. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:

a tip section comprising:

a front-pointing camera comprising a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 3-100 millimeters;

a first side-pointing camera comprising a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters; and

a second side-pointing camera opposing said first side-pointing camera, wherein said second side-pointing camera comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of at least 120 degrees and a length over which an object remains in focus of approximately 2-33 millimeters;

wherein the fields of view of said front-pointing camera and first side-pointing camera and the fields of views of said front-pointing camera and second side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping, such that an object of interest viewed via said first side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said first side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera and such that an object of interest viewed via said second side-pointing camera remains in the field of view of said second side-pointing camera while said tip section is being turned towards the object, and at least until the object becomes visible through said front-pointing camera.

10. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 9 further comprising one or more front illuminators associated with said front-pointing camera, one or more first side illuminators associated with said first side-pointing camera, and one or more second side illuminators associated with said second side-pointing camera.

11. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 9 further comprising an integrated circuit board adapted to supply the front-pointing camera, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera with electrical power and derive images from each of the front-pointing, first side-pointing camera, and second side-pointing camera.

12. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 9 wherein the tip section is configured to be turnable by way of a bending section and wherein said tip section has an end surface and a side surface extending along its length.

13. The multi-camera endoscope of claim 12 wherein a center of said first side-pointing camera is positioned approximately 7 to 11 millimeters from the end surface of the tip section.