Patent ID: 8496580
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: A61B,G02B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising an optical system for use in an endoscope, the optical system having distal and proximal ends and comprising: an image sensor, positioned at the proximal end of the optical system; a distal lens; a single optical member positioned between the distal lens and the image sensor, the optical member being transparent and having distal and proximal ends, said distal end having a curved surface facing said distal lens, a distal indentation at the curved surface of the distal end of the optical member, and a lateral surface, at least a distal portion of which is curved, said lateral surface being configured to receive lateral light to provide omnidirectional lateral viewing; and a convex mirror having a surface covered by a non-transparent reflective coating, positioned between the distal lens and the optical member and being coupled to the distal end of the optical member for reflecting the lateral light into the optical member, and shaped so as to define an opening through which distal light arriving from a forward direction passes, the optical member and the convex mirror are concentric about a common rotation axis, and the opening in the convex mirror provides passage for the distal light onto a proximal surface of the distal indentation, said proximal surface being spaced from and indented from said curved surface and configured as a lens that focuses said distal light passing therethrough, such that said distal light and said lateral tight travel inside the optical member through separate, non-overlapping optical paths.