Abstract: A rear-viewing endoscope includes a rigid section having first and second ends, and a cavity situated between the first and second ends. The rigid section has a longitudinal length and defining a longitudinal axis (LAR). The endoscope further includes a flexible section having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end is coupled to the second end of the rigid section; and an imaging unit having first and second ends and a cavity situated between the first and second ends, the second end of the imaging unit coupled to the distal end of the flexible section. An objective lens assembly of the endoscope includes a complementary multiband bandpass filter (CMBF) pair situated within the cavity of the imaging unit. The CMBF filter collimated image rays passing therethrough so as to output filtered image rays. A camera or detector receives the filtered image rays and forms corresponding video information for stereoscopic imaging.

Abstract: An endoscopic illumination system for illuminating a subject for stereoscopic image capture, includes a light source which outputs light; a first complementary multiband bandpass filter (CMBF) and a second CMBF, the first and second CMBFs being situated in first and second light paths, respectively, where the first CMBF and the second CMBF filter the light incident thereupon to output filtered light; and a camera which captures video images of the subject and generates corresponding video information, the camera receiving light reflected from the subject and passing through a pupil CMBF pair and a detection lens. The pupil CMBF includes a first pupil CMBF and a second pupil CMBF, the first pupil CMBF being identical to the first CMBF and the second pupil CMBF being identical to the second CMBF, and the detection lens includes one unpartitioned section that covers both the first pupil CMBF and the second pupil CMBF.

Abstract: An endoscopic illumination system for illuminating a subject for stereoscopic image capture, includes a light source which outputs light; a first complementary multiband bandpass filter (CMBF) and a second CMBF, the first and second CMBFs being situated in first and second light paths, respectively, where the first CMBF and the second CMBF filter the light incident thereupon to output filtered light; and a camera which captures video images of the subject and generates corresponding video information, the camera receiving light reflected from the subject and passing through a pupil CMBF pair and a detection lens. The pupil CMBF includes a first pupil CMBF and a second pupil CMBF, the first pupil CMBF being identical to the first CMBF and the second pupil CMBF being identical to the second CMBF, and the detection lens includes one unpartitioned section that covers both the first pupil CMBF and the second pupil CMBF.

Abstract: An endoscopic illumination system for illuminating a subject for stereoscopic image capture, the illumination system includes a light source which outputs multi-spectral light; first and second light paths configured to transmit the multi-spectral light; and a digital mirror array (DMA) which receives the multi-spectral light and directs the multi-spectral light to a selected one of the first and second light paths. A controller controls the DMA to direct the multi-spectral light to the selected light path in accordance with a time-multiplexing scheme; and/or first and second complementary multiband bandpass filters (CMBF). The first CMBF may be situated in the first light path and the second CMBF may be situated in the second light path, where the first and second CMBFs filter the multi-spectral light incident thereupon to output filtered light.

Abstract: An endoscopic illumination system for illuminating a subject for stereoscopic image capture, the illumination system includes a light source which outputs multi-spectral light; first and second light paths configured to transmit the multi-spectral light; and a digital mirror array (DMA) which receives the multi-spectral light and directs the multi-spectral light to a selected one of the first and second light paths. A controller controls the DMA to direct the multi-spectral light to the selected light path in accordance with a time-multiplexing scheme; and/or first and second complementary multiband bandpass filters (CMBF). The first CMBF may be situated in the first light path and the second CMBF may be situated in the second light path, where the first and second CMBFs filter the multi-spectral light incident thereupon to output filtered light.