Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include a tip, at least one solid-state emitter such as light emitting diode (LED), located at the distal end of the endoscope, an elongated member. The elongated member may include a plurality of lenses for transmitting light received from the tip member and an elongated conducting member for providing electric power to the solid-state emitter. The elongated conducting member may include conducting lines embedded in a flexible elongated insulating membrane. The tip member and the elongated member may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid-state emitter.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include a tip, at least one solid-state emitter such as light emitting diode (LED), located at the distal end of the endoscope, an elongated member. The elongated member may include a plurality of lenses for transmitting light received from the tip member and an elongated conducting member for providing electric power to the solid-state emitter. The elongated conducting member may include conducting lines embedded in a flexible elongated insulating membrane. The tip member and the elongated member may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid-state emitter.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include a tip, at least one solid-state emitter such as light emitting diode (LED), located at the distal end of the endoscope, an elongated member. The elongated member may include a plurality of lenses for transmitting light received from the tip member and an elongated conducting member for providing electric power to the solid-state emitter. The elongated conducting member may include conducting lines embedded in a flexible elongated insulating membrane. The tip member and the elongated member may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid-state emitter.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopses after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) located at the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope may comprise a thermally conductive cradle attached to the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid state emitter away from the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may also be electrically conductive. Further, the thermally conductive cradle may also function as a support structure for a plurality of lenses.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopes after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) located at the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope may comprise a thermally conductive cradle attached to the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid state emitter away from the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may also be electrically conductive. Further, the thermally conductive cradle may also function as a support structure for a plurality of lenses.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes (e.g., arthroscopes) for viewing inside a cavity of a body. The endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) located at the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope may comprise a thermally conductive cradle attached to the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may be configured to dissipate heat generated by the solid state emitter away from the distal end of the endoscope. The thermally conductive cradle may also be electrically conductive. Further, the thermally conductive cradle may also function as a support structure for a plurality of lenses.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopses after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopses after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into the body cavity to provide illumination therein. Certain embodiments of the invention comprise disposable endoscopes that can be fabricated relatively inexpensively such that discarding these endoscopses after a single use is cost-effective. The endoscope may comprise a lens holder on a distal end of the endoscope for collection of light reflected from surfaces within the body in which the endoscope is inserted. This lens holder may have an inner cavity through which light passes along an optical path. Reflective surfaces on sidewalls of the inner cavity may direct light along this optical path. The endoscope may further comprise an elongated support structure for supporting a plurality of lenses disposed along the optical path.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for obtaining color endoscopic images with a monochromatic detector. In certain embodiments, such a monochromatic detector can provide beneficial features such as high resolution capability. In certain embodiments, a number of different color light sources can be controlled separately so as to allow sequential illumination of an object with the different color lights. Images obtained from such sequential illumination can be combined to yield a color image. Various configurations and examples for facilitating such a process are disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include a usage detector and a disabling device coupled to the usage detector, wherein the disabling device is configured to disable the endoscope at least partly in response to an electrical, optical, and/or mechanical output from the usage detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring wavelength composition and power of a dispersed spectrum of light comprises a diffractive light modulator and a detector. The diffractive light modulator comprises an array of light modulating pixels operable in a first mode and a second mode. In operation, the dispersed spectrum of light illuminates the diffractive light modulator along the array of light modulating pixels, which selectively directs a subset of the dispersed spectrum of light into the first mode while directing a remainder of the dispersed spectrum of light into the second mode. The detector is optically coupled to the diffractive light modulator. In operation, the detector detects the subset of the dispersed spectrum of light while not detecting the remainder of the dispersed spectrum of light. Each of the light modulating pixels is controlled by signals sent from a controller. The signals comprise a time division multiplex modulation, a code division multiplex modulation, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting wavelength change of a first light signal comprises an amplitude splitting interferometer and a detector. The amplitude splitting interferometer comprises first and second optical paths. The first optical path has a first index of refraction that varies with wavelength over a first wavelength band. The second optical path has a second index of refraction that is relatively constant over the first wavelength band. In operation the first light signal enters and exits the amplitude splitting interferometer forming interference light. The interference light couples to the detector which detects the wavelength change of the first light signal from the interference light. An interferometer comprises a first beam splitter, third and fourth optical paths, and a second beam splitter. The third optical path is optically coupled to the first beam splitter and has a third index of refraction that varies with wavelength over a second wavelength band.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting wavelength change of a first light signal comprises an amplitude splitting interferometer and a detector. The amplitude splitting interferometer comprises first and second optical paths. The first optical path has a first index of refraction that varies with wavelength over a first wavelength band. The second optical path has a second index of refraction that is relatively constant over the first wavelength band. In operation the first light signal enters and exits the amplitude splitting interferometer forming interference light. The interference light couples to the detector which detects the wavelength change of the first light signal from the interference light. An interferometer comprises a first beam splitter, third and fourth optical paths, and a second beam splitter. The third optical path is optically coupled to the first beam splitter and has a third index of refraction that varies with wavelength over a second wavelength band.