Abstract:
The invention is a medical imaging device designed for insertion into the vagina for medical examination, imaging, image analysis and treatment of the interior of the vagina. The device comprises a front assembly, optimally shaped to match the shape of the vaginal canal; imaging and illumination assemblies; a handle; and an optimally shaped cover designed to fit tightly over and hermetically isolate at least that part of the front assembly that is inserted into the vaginal canal from the surrounding tissue and body fluids. The cover of the device of the invention can comprise one or more passages extending through it from its proximal end to its distal end enabling passage of one or more surgical tools and/or liquids and/or gases, from outside of the vaginal canal to the location of the scene imaged by the imaging assembly. The invention is also a medical imaging system comprising a medical imaging device of the invention, a computer and/or display station, and communication components. The medical imaging system may comprise operation software and image processing software.
Abstract:
A lens having an axis of symmetry, including a transparent circumferential surface, circumferentially extending about the axis of symmetry, the transparent surface having optical power in planes which include the axis of symmetry, a first reflective surface, symmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry and being operative to reflect light passing through the transparent surface and a second reflective surface, symmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry and axially spaced from the transparent surface and being operative to reflect light reflected by the first reflective surface.
Abstract:
The present invention describes several embodiments of electro-optical assemblies, which are capable of capturing full or nearly full spherical field of view. The present invention presents improvements of the prior art methods by unifying several methods to achieve coverage of a large field of view. The present invention provides a method for utilizing the concept of reflective surfaces and combining two image capture devices to achieve an even larger field of view than those presented previously.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an omni-directional imaging assembly comprising a solid omni-directional lens (1) comprising a vertical axis of symmetry; an upper surface (3), at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that arrive from the inner side of the omni-directional lens; a transparent perimeter surface (2); a lower convex surface (4), at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that arrive from the direction of the perimeter surface; and a transparent circular section (5) maintained in the lower convex surface around the vertical axis of symmetry.
Abstract:
In a first aspect, the present invention provides an omni-directional imaging assembly. In the preferred embodiment the assembly of the invention comprises a solid omni-directional lens comprising a vertical axis of symmetry; an upper surface, at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that arrive from the inner side of the omni-directional lens; a transparent perimeter surface; a lower convex surface, at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that arrive from the direction of the perimeter surface; and a transparent circular surface maintained in the lower convex surface around the vertical axis of symmetry. The light rays from a first 360 degrees, panoramic, scene are refracted by the transparent perimeter surface, are then reflected by the lower convex surface towards the upper surface, and then reflected by the upper surface towards the transparent circular surface, where they are refracted and exit the omni-directional lens. In a second aspect the omni-directional imaging assembly of the invention can be combined with an illumination source to simultaneously provide both omni-directional imaging and omni-directional illumination. Also described are embodiments of the invention that comprise image capturing devices, embodiments that enable simultaneous imaging of the first scene and a second scene, and embodiments that are adapted to the requirements of endoscopic imaging.
Abstract:
The present invention describes several embodiments of electro-optical assemblies capable of capturing full or nearly full spherical field of view. The present invention uses an reflective surface (1) to reflect light to a first image capture device (2) that represents a scene and a second image capture device (5) captures light from second scene that may represent a portion of the scene captured by the first image capture device. The present invention utilizes the concept of reflective surfaces and combining two images to achieve an even larger field of view.
Abstract:
The invention is a medical imaging device designed for insertion into the vagina for medical examination, imaging, image analysis and treatment of the interior of the vagina. The device comprises a front assembly (2), optimally shaped to match the shape of the vaginal canal; imaging and illumination assemblies (3); a handle (1); and an optimally shaped cover (5) designed to fit tightly over and hermetically isolate at least that part of the front assembly (2) that is inserted into the vaginal canal from the surrounding tissue and body fluids. The cover (5) of the device of the invention can comprise one or more passages (8) extending through it from its proximal end to its distal end enabling passage of one or more surgical tools (10) and/or liquids and/or gases, from outside of the vaginal canal to the location of the scene imaged by the imaging assembly (3). The invention is also a medical imaging system comprising a medical imaging device of the invention, a computer and/or display station, and communication components. The medical imaging system may comprise operation software and image processing software.
Abstract:
A lens having an axis of symmetry, including a transparent circumferential surface, circumferentially extending about the axis of symmetry, the transparent surface having optical power in planes which include the axis of symmetry, a first reflective surface, symmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry and being operative to reflect light passing through the transparent surface and a second reflective surface, symmetric with respect to the axis of symmetry and axially spaced from the transparent surface and being operative to reflect light reflected by the first reflective surface. 1
Abstract:
The invention presents a wide-angle imaging assembly which comprises a main lens produced from an aspheric optical block. The aspheric optical block comprises a vertical axis of symmetry; a transparent upper surface, at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that impinge upon it from the interior of the optical block; a transparent perimeter surface; and a transparent lower surface. The optical block is fabricated from material selected to enable optical transmittance of a specific spectral range. Light rays in the specific spectral range originating in a first scene, having a 360 degrees panoramic perimeter, are refracted by the transparent perimeter surface, enter the optical block, are then reflected by the upper surface towards the transparent lower surface, where they are then refracted by the transparent lower surface, and exit through it.
Abstract:
The invention presents a wide-angle imaging assembly which comprises a main lens produced from an aspheric optical block. The aspheric optical block comprises a vertical axis of symmetry; a transparent upper surface, at least part of which is capable of reflecting rays that impinge upon it from the interior of the optical block; a transparent perimeter surface; and a transparent lower surface. The optical block is fabricated from material selected to enable optical transmittance of a specific spectral range. Light rays in the specific spectral range originating in a first scene, having a 360 degrees panoramic perimeter, are refracted by the transparent perimeter surface, enter the optical block, are then reflected by the upper surface towards the transparent lower surface, where they are then refracted by the transparent lower surface, and exit through it.