Endoscope system
An endoscope system includes an endoscope, a display device, and a cable interconnecting the endoscope and the display device. The endoscope includes an elongated body extending distally from a handle. An image sensor is disposed within a distal portion of the elongated body, a lens is disposed at a distal end of the elongated body, and a light source including one or more light emitting elements is integrated into the distal end of the elongated body and positioned radially outward of the lens. An integrated processor is disposed within the handle.
1. An endoscope including:
a handle including a handle housing including a grip portion configured for handling the endoscope and a control portion including actuating elements for functional control of the endoscope, the handle housing defining an inner chamber containing a plurality of circuit boards including:
a main board including a processor and memory for system control, data capture, image processing, and video output;
a power board including an integrated power chip to manage system power;
a button board to enable/disable user controls; and
a switch board to power the endoscope on and off,
the main board, the power board, and the switch board positioned in the grip portion of the handle housing, and the button board positioned in the control portion of the handle housing and operably associated with the actuating elements;
an elongated body extending distally from the control portion of the handle housing, the grip portion and the control portion of the handle extending linearly along a longitudinal axis defined by the elongated body, the elongated body including:
a camera including an image sensor disposed in a distal portion of the elongated body and a lens disposed at a distal end of the elongated body; and
a light source disposed at the distal end of the elongated body,
wherein the processor includes a first peripheral controller for controlling the transmission of data between the processor and the camera and a second peripheral controller for controlling the transmission of data between the processor and the light source; and
a passive thermal control system including:
a thermally conductive substrate disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body, the thermally conductive substrate including a distal side affixed to the light source; and
a heat sink disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body, the heat sink including a distal side coupled to the thermally conductive substrate and an inner surface having a profile matching the lens and the light source.
2. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes light emitting elements integrated into the distal end of the elongated body and positioned radially outward of the lens.
3. The endoscope of claim 2 , wherein the light emitting elements are disposed in a crescent shape around a portion of the lens.
4. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the processor is a system-on-chip.
5. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a cable extending from the grip portion of the handle, the cable connectable to a display.
6. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the passive thermal control system includes a thermally conductive adhesive disposed between the heat sink and the thermally conductive substrate.
7. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the passive thermal control system includes a cylindrical wall of the elongated body, and the heat sink has a cylindrical shape including an outer surface in full contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical wall.
8. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the main board, the power board, and the switch board extend along parallel axes within the inner chamber of the handle housing.
9. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a collar extending around the handle housing, the control portion of the handle disposed distal to the collar.
10. The endoscope of claim 9 , wherein the collar includes a plurality of protrusions extending radially outwardly therefrom.
11. An endoscope comprising:
a handle;
an elongated body extending distally from the handle housing, the elongated body including:
a camera including an image sensor disposed in a distal portion of the elongated body and a lens disposed at a distal end of the elongated body; and
a light source disposed at the distal end of the elongated body; and
a passive thermal control system including:
a thermally conductive substrate disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body, the thermally conductive substrate including a distal side affixed to the light source; and
a heat sink disposed within the distal portion of the elongated body with the thermally conductive substrate disposed within the heat sink, the heat sink including a distal side coupled to the thermally conductive substrate and an inner surface having a profile matching the lens and the light source.
12. The endoscope of claim 11 , wherein the heat sink includes an outer surface in full contact with an inner surface of the elongated body.
13. The endoscope of claim 11 , wherein the passive thermal control system includes a thermally conductive adhesive disposed between the heat sink and the thermally conductive substrate.
14. The endoscope of claim 11 , wherein the passive thermal control system includes a fixture disposed within the elongated body proximal to the lens and the heat sink, a distal surface of the fixture positioned adjacent to the lens.
15. The endoscope of claim 14 , wherein the fixture is axially spaced from the heat sink.
16. The endoscope of claim 11 , wherein the lens extends proximally through the heat sink.
17. The endoscope of claim 11 , wherein the light source includes light emitting elements integrated into the distal end of the elongated body and positioned radially outward of the lens.
18. The endoscope of claim 17 , wherein the light emitting elements are disposed in a crescent shape around a portion of the lens.
19. The endoscope of claim 17 , wherein the light emitting elements are arranged in an annular ring around the lens.