Abstract: A scope assembly for an endoscope adapted for use with a portal cannula to provide a generally hemispherically shaped field of view within the body. The scope assembly includes a guiding cannula adapted for rotation within the portal cannula. A distal end of the guiding cannula is bent or offset from a longitudinal axis of the scope assembly. A bendable scope is mounted within the guiding cannula and is adapted for rotation within the guiding cannula. A GRIN lens located at a distal or viewing end of the bendable scope is also offset from the longitudinal axis of the bendable scope such that upon rotation of the guiding cannula or bendable scope a generally hemispherically shaped field of view is scanned.

Abstract: A disposable arthroscope for examining the interior of a joint and for carrying out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the joint includes an elongated needle and a cap housing which has a base plate. The proximal end of the needle is mounted on the cap opposite the base plate, and the distal end of the needle extends outwardly from the cap. The needle is a hollow tube which surrounds an image guide and a bundle of illuminating fibers that extend through the tube. A lens is attached to the distal end of the image guide and is slightly angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the needle. The proximal ends of both the image guide and the bundle of illuminating fibers extend from the proximal end of the tube and through the cap for exposure at the surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A disposable arthroscope for examining the interior of a joint and for carrying out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the joint includes an elongated needle and a cap housing which has a base plate. The proximal end of the needle is mounted on the cap opposite the base plate, and the distal end of the needle extends outwardly from the cap. The needle is a hollow tube which surrounds an image guide and a bundle of illuminating fibers that extend through the tube. A lens is attached to the distal end of the image guide and is slightly angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the needle. The proximal ends of both the image guide and the bundle of illuminating fibers extend from the proximal end of the tube and through the cap for exposure at the surface of the base plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light box for fiber optic illumination cables. The light box includes a light bulb mounted in a disposable bulb holder. The light from the bulb enters a light preparation train including an aperture to produce an initial light beam, a hot mirror to reflect infrared and ultraviolet light, and an optical taper to narrow the light beam to the input diameter of the fiber optic illumination cable. The resulting light beam is passed to the illumination cable via a connector which selectively retains the fiber optic cable. The connector allows the cable to rotate while retained in the connector and includes a receiving tube surrounded by a sliding tube. A void between the tubes contains a plurality of ball retainers which can selectively extend through the wall of the receiving tube to retain the fiber optic cable. Because the connector is spring loaded, the cable is securely retained unless the sliding tube is manually moved into the releasing position by the operator.

Abstract: A disposable sterile sleeve is provided which is removably attachable to a video camera of an arthroscope. The sleeve comprises a flexible elongate tubular shroud and a rigid annular mounting collar. The shroud is open ended with the collar rotatably attached to one open end by a connector member providing independent rotation of the collar relative to the shroud. A pull tab is attached to the opposite open end of the shroud to facilitate extension of the shroud over the camera. The sleeve may be compacted for storage prior to use by tightly scrunching the shroud together, thereby folding it onto itself. To attach the sleeve to the camera, the video camera is inserted through the compacted shroud until it engages the collar. A male thread provided on the camera is threaded into a female thread provided on the collar and the shroud is then extended over the camera by pulling on the tab to draw out the folds in the shroud.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling an arthroscopic probe which includes bending a linear image-transmitting optical fiber about a heated pivot point so that the distal end of the fiber is oblique to the proximal end. A lens is then attached to the distal face of the image-transmitting optical fiber by means of an adhesive and the resulting image path is positioned in a hollow needle with the lens exposed at the distal end and the optical fiber exposed at the proximal end. An illuminating optical fiber is also positioned in the needle adjacent the image path and the two are anchored therein by a curable filler material. Finally, the needle is proximally mounted in a base such that the proximal faces of the image-transmitting and illuminating optical fibers are exposed.

Abstract: A hand-held portable arthroscope has a camera assembly and a disposable scope assembly rotatably attached to the distal end of the camera assembly. A probe which includes a fiber optic image guide and a plurality of optical illuminating fibers is rotatably mounted on the scope assembly, and is insertable into a body for imaging the internal structure of the body. The illuminating fibers extend through the scope assembly and are connected in light communication with a quartz halogen lamp for illuminating the internal body structure being imaged. To gather light from the illuminated internal structure of a body into which the probe has been inserted, a GRIN rod is attached to the distal end of the image guide. The image guide is bent near its distal end to offset the axis of the GRIN rod from the axis of the camera assembly, to enhance the field of view of the arthroscope when the scope assembly, which supports the image guide with GRIN rod, is rotated.