IP Library Granted Patent US 8,797,392
Granted Patent B2
US 8,797,392 · App. 11/938,256 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Endoscope assembly with a polarizing filter

Inventors: Lex Bayer (Palo Alto, CA); Rupesh Desai (San Jose, CA); Alex Niel (Daly City, CA); Venkata Vishnu Gurukula (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Avantis Medical Sytems, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,797,392
App. No.
11/938,256
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscope includes an imaging device, a first polarizing filter disposed in front of the imaging device, a light source, and a second polarizing filter disposed in front of the light source.

Claims (25)

1. An endoscope assembly, comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a channel therebetween terminating at a distal face of the insertion tube, the endoscope further including a first imaging sensor and a first light source located on the distal face of the insertion tube;

an imaging assembly including a second imaging sensor and a second light source, wherein the imaging assembly is at least partially disposed within and extends from the channel such that the second imaging sensor exits the channel and faces toward the first imaging sensor;

a first circular polarizing filter disposed over the first light source; and

a second circular polarizing filter disposed over the second imaging sensor, wherein the first and second circular polarizing filters have opposite orientations.

2. The endoscope assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the circular polarizing filters includes a retarder and wherein the retarders of the first and second circular polarizing filters face toward each other.

3. The endoscope assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first light source is configured to illuminate a field of view of the first imaging sensor.

4. The endoscope assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second light source faces towards the first imaging sensor.

5. An endoscope assembly, comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a channel therebetween terminating at a distal face of the insertion tube, the endoscope further including a first imaging sensor and a first light source located on the distal face of the insertion tube;

an imaging assembly including a second imaging sensor and a second light source, wherein the imaging assembly is at least partially disposed within and extends from the channel such that the second imaging sensor exits the channel and faces toward the first imaging sensor;

a first circular polarizing filter disposed over the first imaging sensor; and

a second circular polarizing filter disposed over the second light source, wherein the first and second circular polarizing filters have opposite orientations.

6. The endoscope assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of the polarizing filters includes a retarder and wherein the retarders of the first and second polarizing filters face each other.

7. The endoscope assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second light source faces toward the first imaging sensor.

8. An endoscope assembly, comprising:

an endoscope including an insertion tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a channel therebetween terminating at a distal face of the insertion tube, the endoscope further including a first imaging sensor and a first light source located on the distal face of the insertion tube;

an imaging assembly including a second imaging sensor and a second light source, wherein the imaging assembly is at least partially disposed within and extends from the channel such that the second imaging sensor exits the channel and faces towards the first imaging sensor;

a first circular polarizing filter disposed over the first imaging sensor; and

a second circular polarizing filter disposed over the first light source, wherein the first and second circular polarizing filters have the same orientation.

9. The endoscope assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a cap, wherein the first and second circular polarizing filters are disposed on the cap.

10. The endoscope assembly of claim 1 , wherein the endoscope assembly further comprises

a third circular polarizing filter disposed over the first imaging sensor; and

a fourth circular polarizing filter disposed over the second light source, wherein the third and fourth circular polarizing filters have opposite orientations.

11. The endoscope assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cap, wherein the first circular polarizing filter is disposed on the cap.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2022
From: PSIP2 LLC
To: PINEY LAKE OPPORTUNITIES ECI MASTER FUND LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061006/0252 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2021
From: PSIP LLC
To: PINEY LAKE OPPORTUNITIES ECI MASTER FUND LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 056765/0749 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2019
From: AVANTIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
To: PSIP LLC
Reel/Frame 049719/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2008
From: BAYER, LEX; DESAI, RUPESH; NIEL, ALEX; GURUKULA, VENKATA VISHNU
To: AVANTIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020548/0826 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation In Part 11673470 · Feb 9, 2007
Continuation In Part 11672020 · Feb 6, 2007
Continuation In Part 11626189 · Jan 23, 2007
Continuation In Part 11609838 · Dec 12, 2006
Continuation In Part 11215660 · Aug 29, 2005
Continuation In Part 11030559 · Jan 5, 2005
Provisional Application 60772442 · Feb 9, 2006
Related Publication 20080130108A1 · Jun 5, 2008