MINIATURE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention relates to a small diameter imaging probe or endoscope (10),a solid state imaging device (44),and a light transmitting path (40,30,42) that collects light at a distal end of the probe and directs the light along the length of the probe to the imaging device. The invention also relates to a small diameter endoscope having a light transmitting path with a light absorbing layer (32) and a super clad layer (68) defining the image aperture. The invention relates to a small diameter endoscope system for imaging of objects or tissue within a body. An image relay (42) is used to couple image light between optical elements of the probe such that an image is detected by an imaging sensor (44) at a proximal end of the device.