US Patent No: 7,030,904
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Reduced area imaging device incorporated within wireless endoscopic devices
Stats
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Apr 18, 2006
Issued date -
Aug 13, 2001
filing date -
09/929,531
serial no -
In Force
status
Importance
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Abstract
A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. In a first embodiment of the endoscope, connections between imaging device elements and between a video display is achieved by hard-wired connections. In a second embodiment of the endoscope, wireless transmission is used for communications between imaging device components, and/or for transferring video ready signals to a video display. In one configuration of the imaging device, the image sensor is placed remote from the remaining circuitry. In another configuration, all of the circuitry to include the image sensor is placed in a stacked fashion at the same location. The entire imaging device can be placed at the distal tip of an endoscope. Alternatively, the image sensor can be placed remote from the remaining circuitry according to the first configuration, and control box is used which communicates with the image sensor and is placed remotely from the endoscope. Further alternatively, the imaging device can be incorporated in the housing of a standard medical camera which is adapted for use with traditional rod lens endoscopes. In any of the configurations or arrangements, the image sensor may be placed alone on a first circuit board, or timing and control circuits may be included on the first circuit board containing the image sensor. The timing and control circuits and one or more video processing boards can be placed adjacent the image sensor in a tubular portion of the endoscope, in other areas within the endoscope, in the control box, or in combinations of these location.
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First Claim
Related Publications
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International Classification(s)
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Cited Art
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
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| RE33854 sterilizable sheathpe with .[.heat.]. | 40 | 1990 | |
| 5,251,613 Method of cervical videoscope with detachable camera | 86 | 1992 | |
| 5,402,768 Endoscope with reusable core and disposable sheath with passageways | 104 | 1993 | |
| 5,489,256 Sterilizable endoscope with separable disposable tube assembly | 151 | 1994 | |
| 5,630,782 Sterilizable endoscope with separable auxiliary assembly | 85 | 1995 | |
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| 5,701,155 Processor module for video inspection probe | 36 | 1995 | |
| 5,734,418 Endoscope with tab imager package | 42 | 1996 | |
| 5,754,313 Imager assembly | 69 | 1996 | |
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| 4,745,471 Solid-state imaging apparatus and endoscope | 60 | 1987 | |
| 4,786,965 Eletronic endoscope with an imaging device having side bonding pads | 23 | 1987 | |
| 5,220,198 Solid state imaging apparatus in which a solid state imaging device chip and substrate are face-bonded with each other | 67 | 1991 | |
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| 5,980,450 Coupling device for use in an imaging system | 15 | 1998 | |
| 6,413,209 Imaging system with condensation control | 7 | 1999 | |
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| 4,814,648 Low 1/f noise amplifier for CCD imagers | 29 | 1987 | |
| 6,417,882 CMOS sensor camera with on-chip image compression | 18 | 1998 | |
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| 4,491,865 Image sensor assembly | 145 | 1982 | |
| 4,854,302 Video equipped endoscope with needle probe | 66 | 1987 | |
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| 5,471,515 Active pixel sensor with intra-pixel charge transfer | 552 | 1994 | |
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| 6,809,358 Photoconductor on active pixel image sensor | 54 | 2003 | |
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| 5,879,289 Hand-held portable endoscopic camera | 142 | 1996 | |
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| 6,659,940 Image sensor and an endoscope using the same | 50 | 2001 | |
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| 4,942,473 Intelligent scan image sensor | 55 | 1988 | |
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| 5,682,199 Video endoscope with interchangeable endoscope heads | 62 | 1996 | |
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| 5,453,785 Measurement camera with fixed geometry and rigid length support | 31 | 1993 | |
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| 5,162,913 Apparatus for modulating the output of a CCD camera | 27 | 1990 | |
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| 5,605,531 Apparatus for use with endoscopy and fluoroscopy for automatic switching between video modes | 24 | 1994 | |
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| 5,116,317 Angioplasty catheter with integral fiber optic assembly | 62 | 1991 | |
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| 6,761,561 Wireless dental camera | 20 | 2002 | |
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| 6,729,726 Eyewear for hands-free communication | 57 | 2001 | |
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| 4,869,246 Method for controllably embolyzing blood vessels | 16 | 1987 | |
| 5,381,784 Stereoscopic endoscope | 59 | 1992 | |
| 5,630,783 Portable cystoscope | 26 | 1995 | |
Patent Citation Ranking
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 Year Payment | $3600.00 | $1800.00 | $900.00 | Oct 18, 2013 |
| 11.5 Year Payment | $7400.00 | $3700.00 | $1850.00 | Oct 18, 2017 |
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge - 7.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge - 11.5 year - Late payment within 6 months | $160.00 | $80.00 | $40.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |