Abstract: A flexible circuit assembly for an endoscope or borescope having an image sensor. The flexible circuit assembly has a flexible circuit with a first end, a second end, and a length between its first and second ends, the first end of the flexible circuit electrically connectable with the image sensor. A strengthening member is adjacent to the flexible circuit and along the length of the flexible circuit. An electrically insulated layer retains the strengthening member adjacent to the flexible circuit and encloses at least of portion of the strengthening member and the flexible circuit. The strengthening member may comprise a nitinol wire, and the nitinol wire may have a neutral position such that the nitinol wire returns to the neutral position after being articulated to a different position.

Abstract: A flexible circuit assembly for an endoscope or borescope having an image sensor. The flexible circuit assembly has a flexible circuit with a first end, a second end, and a length between its first and second ends, the first end of the flexible circuit electrically connectable with the image sensor. A strengthening member is adjacent to the flexible circuit and along the length of the flexible circuit. An electrically insulated layer retains the strengthening member adjacent to the flexible circuit and encloses at least of portion of the strengthening member and the flexible circuit. The strengthening member may comprise a nitinol wire, and the nitinol wire may have a neutral position such that the nitinol wire returns to the neutral position after being articulated to a different position.

Abstract: A flexible circuit assembly for an endoscope or borescope having an image sensor. The flexible circuit assembly has a flexible circuit with a first end, a second end, and a length between its first and second ends, the first end of the flexible circuit electrically connectable with the image sensor. A strengthening member is adjacent to the flexible circuit and along the length of the flexible circuit. An electrically insulated layer retains the strengthening member adjacent to the flexible circuit and encloses at least of portion of the strengthening member and the flexible circuit. The strengthening member may comprise a nitinol wire, and the nitinol wire may have a neutral position such that the nitinol wire returns to the neutral position after being articulated to a different position.

Abstract: A flexible circuit assembly for an endoscope or borescope having an image sensor. The flexible circuit assembly has a flexible circuit with a first end, a second end, and a length between its first and second ends, the first end of the flexible circuit electrically connectable with the image sensor. A strengthening member is adjacent to the flexible circuit and along the length of the flexible circuit. An electrically insulated layer retains the strengthening member adjacent to the flexible circuit and encloses at least of portion of the strengthening member and the flexible circuit. The strengthening member may comprise a nitinol wire, and the nitinol wire may have a neutral position such that the nitinol wire returns to the neutral position after being articulated to a different position.

Abstract: An optical fiber imaging system includes an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers, an elongated housing receiving and at least partially enclosing the optical fiber bundle therein, and an optical window disposed at an end of the elongated housing and thereby defining a cavity within the elongated housing next to the end face of the fiber bundle, the cavity being adapted to retain a substance of inert chemistry such as index matched oil for suppressing environmental degradation at the end face of the fiber bundle. The oil is preferably made of silicone petroleum products with the index of refraction being advantageous to the preferred optical characteristics of the entire imaging system.

Abstract: An optical fiber imaging system includes an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers, an elongated housing receiving and at least partially enclosing the optical fiber bundle therein, and an optical window disposed at an end of the elongated housing and thereby defining a cavity within the elongated housing next to the end face of the fiber bundle, the cavity being adapted to retain a substance of inert chemistry such as index matched oil for suppressing environmental degradation at the end face of the fiber bundle. The oil is preferably made of silicone petroleum products with the index of refraction being advantageous to the preferred optical characteristics of the entire imaging system.

Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by provision of a flexible endoscope insertion shaft having a hollow inner shaft portion formed from a superelastic metal alloy. The hollow inner shaft portion includes a plurality of longitudinally and radially spaced apart holes passing through a wall thereof. Flexibility properties of the insertion shaft are variable without varying the thickness of or the composition of the wall of the hollow inner shaft portion by varying a number of, size of, and/or relative position of the plurality of holes. A polymeric coating coats a surface of the hollow inner shaft portion.

Abstract: A lightguide including a bundle of optical fibers, and a sheath surrounding said bundle. The sheath is a stiffly flexible tube which has an uncut length adjacent to one of its ends, and a helical cut through its wall extending away from the uncut length. The bundle is held to the uncut length, and fits loosely in the cut length, the fibers being free from one another in the uncut length.

Abstract: An electronic digital sequential counter in which a calculator chip, namely the Texas Instrument Corp.'s chip #TMS0972NL, is the single counting element. The count number is displayed on an LED readout that is compatible with the chip, and can accommodate up to eight (8) place figures with sign and floating decimal. The chip is programmed to count by a simple keyboard sequence consisting of the desired counting interval N followed by the "addition" function, and then N. The count is executed by triggering the "equals" function at each occurrence of the event to be counted. The counting interval N will add upon itself with every operation of the "equals" function. This function can be operated by several means by the event to be counted. A shaft rotation count encoder is described in which the "equals" function operating switch is arranged to close, thus allowing an event count, upon the occurrence of discrete events encoded on a rotating drum that is mechanically linked to the rotating shaft to be counted.