Abstract: An objective head for a fiberscope fabricated (cast or molded) from optically clear plastic having lenses molded integrally with the head to form a single piece-part and method of fabrication.

Abstract: An autofocus mechanism for a microscope comprises an arrangement of optical elements aligned along a single optical path. The arrangement includes a single illumination source which provides both a viewing component and a positioning component. Included in the autofocus arrangement are optical elements to eccentrically reference the positioning component for determining the focus condition of the instrument. The autofocus arrangement also includes a detector for determining the degree of eccentricity of the measuring ray and to make adjustments in the microscope according to this eccentricity to bring the viewed object into focus.

Abstract: An endoscope has an eyepiece with an optical system (16) comprising a series of lenses (18) housed in a sleeve (20) which is movable longitudinally in the endoscope casing for focusing an image. An adjusting ring (26) is rotated to adjust the position of the sleeve (20), to focus the image for viewing by the eye. For viewing of the image by a camera, an adaptor (38) is fitted on the end of the endoscope eyepiece. The adaptor (38) has a slot (44) which receives a fixed projection (36) and a movable projection (30) on the adjusting ring (26). Rotation of the adaptor (38) rotates the ring (26) and thereby shifts the sleeve to a predetermined longitudinal position suitable for viewing of the image by a camera.

Abstract: In a microscope, a nosepiece support assembly and a coarse and fine adjustment mechanism in direct operative control of the support assembly, the support assembly including a nosepiece mounting carriage with a depending rod rigid therewith and mounting a cam follower which rides on the edge of a cam, rotation of which is controlled by the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism in turn includes a reduction gear assembly utilizing dual gear trains and mounted to a cam-mounting shaft externally of the frame of the microscope and housed within a coarse adjustment handwheel for immediate access thereto. One of the gear trains incorporates a compound gear having a torsion spring between the individual gears to enhance gear train interengagement throughout the gear assembly.

Abstract: A shaft which is capable of flexing or articulation under remote control comprises a plurality of identical vertebrae each having a generally circular outer rim (1), an inner hub region (2), and a plurality of webs or spokes (3) interconnecting the outer rim and the inner hub region. The inner hub region presents a projection (6) on one face of the vertebra and a recess (5) on the other face of the vertebra, the projection and recess being of complementary shape and being such that the projections and recesses of adjacent vertebrae arranged in series inter-engage to permit rocking of one vertebra on the adjacent vertebra to provide flexing or articulation. The flexible shaft may form part of an endoscope or other similar medical instrument, or may be the shaft of an industrial instrument such as a bore-scope.

Abstract: A circuit and method for converting signals from a photoelectric image sensor into digital signals containing information as to a characteristic of the sensor signals. The photoelectric image sensor provides output pulses having characteristic determined by the manner in which light is incident thereon and this, in turn, is determined by a light influencing medium in an optical path between a light source and the image sensor. In particular, the peak amplitude of each signal from the sensor is determined and then converted into a digital signal containing information as to the peak amplitude. This is accomplished by detecting the rise of each sensor signal to a peak amplitude and then holding a signal level corresponding to the peak level of the sensor signal as the sensor signal falls in amplitude for a time at least equal to the time for acquiring or converting into the digital signal.

Abstract: A diagnostic endoscope useful to make remote examinations and retrievals having a pistol grip which includes a built-in flexible pneumatic bulb.

Abstract: An endoscope has a handle portion and a separate shaft portion which can be joined to the handle portion. The shaft portion has a flexible shaft flexing movement of which is controlled by knobs on the handle portion, and this motion is transmitted across the handle/shaft interface by meshing gearwheels. Each tooth of each gearwheel has a crown shaped so as to have a central ridge between sloping sides which facilitate interengagement of the gearwheels when the latter are brought into crown-to-crown engagement in a non-rotating condition.

Abstract: A searching and measuring endoscope employing two image-transmitting systems in a common housing. One system is fitted with a wide angle, fixed focus objective lens with large depth of field for searching and the other system is fitted with a narrow angle, fixed focus objective lens having a small depth of field and a predetermined working distance and magnification for measuring.

Abstract: A bronchoscope with usual and customary accessories such as working channels for irrigation, forceps, light and image fiber optic bundles where one channel is adapted to receive a small gauge catheterscope for reaching, viewing and inspecting remote small diameter bronchioli of a bronchial tree.

Abstract: An elongated, flexible plastic tube with internal web and bore structure comprising a continuous sequence of connected vertebra-like elements useful in endoscopes and the like.