Solid state variable direction of view endoscope with rotatable wide-angle field for maximal image performance

摘要

An endoscope and endoscopic surgical system for improving the image resolution/performance of a solid state variable direction of view endoscope. The endoscope and endoscopic surgical system has an optical rotator element that optically rotates the entire wide-angle field so as to make any portion of the wide-angle field visible to an image sensor.

主权项

1. An endoscope comprising:
a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis; a wide-angle objective-type lens disposed in the distal end of the body for capturing light of a wide viewing field; an image sensor having only one imaging surface disposed in the body for detecting the light captured by the wide-angle objective-type lens and forming one or more images of the wide viewing field; an optical rotator interposed between the wide-angle objective-type lens and the image sensor, the optical rotator being rotatable such that during a course of normal operation, any portion of the wide viewing field may be detected by the image sensor, the portion detected at any one time being a sensor view; a relay lens system interposed between the optical rotator and the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system transmitting the captured light of the wide viewing field to the image sensor for detection; and an actuator configured to rotate the optical rotator; wherein a center-point of the entire imaging surface is offset from an optical axis formed by the wide-angle objective-type lens, the relay lens system, and the optical rotator, the center-point being offset from the optical axis such that only some of the captured light of the wide viewing field is detected by the entire imaging surface and such that the sensor view includes the optical axis.