Abstract:
There is provided herein a circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope comprising a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera, a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.

Description:
REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
     Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/449,741, filed on Mar. 7, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to an endoscope circuit board assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Endoscopes have attained great acceptance within the medical community, since they provide a means for performing procedures with minimal patient trauma, while enabling the physician to view the internal anatomy of the patient. Over the years, numerous endoscopes have been developed and categorized according to specific applications, such as cystoscopy, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, upper GI endoscopy and others. Endoscopes may be inserted into the body&#39;s natural orifices or through an incision in the skin. 
     An endoscope is usually an elongated tubular shaft, rigid or flexible, having a video camera or a fiber optic lens assembly at its distal end. The shaft is connected to a handle, which sometimes includes an ocular for direct viewing. Viewing is also usually possible via an external screen. Various surgical tools may be inserted through a working channel in the endoscope for performing different surgical procedures. 
     Endoscopes, such as colonoscopes, that are currently being used, typically have a front camera for viewing the internal organ, such as the colon, an illuminator, a fluid injector for cleaning the camera lens and sometimes also the illuminator and a working channel for insertion of surgical tools, for example, for removing polyps found in the colon. Often, endoscopes also have fluid injectors (“jet”) for cleaning a body cavity, such as the colon, into which they are inserted. The illuminators commonly used are fiber optics which transmits light, generated remotely, to the endoscope tip section. The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illumination is also known. 
     One of the biggest challenges facing endoscope manufacturers is the need to miniaturize and pack a number of elements into the endoscope&#39;s tip in order to support large number of endoscope functions including operation of medical tools, imaging capabilities, field of view illumination, fluid injection, and other functions. 
     There is thus a need in the art for endoscopes, such as colonoscopies, that allow efficient packing of endoscope&#39;s internal parts, while maintaining endoscopes functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods, which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. 
     There is provided herein, according to some embodiments of the invention a circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the assembly comprising: a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera; a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera. 
     In some embodiments, the assembly further comprises one or more circuit board holders configured to support the flexible illuminator circuit board, the camera circuit board or both. 
     In some embodiments, the circuit board holder comprises at least one niche configured to accommodate at least one of the illuminators, and/or at least one of the cameras. 
     In some embodiments, the camera circuit board is a foldable camera circuit board. In some embodiments, the camera circuit board is configured to carry a front-pointing camera and two side-pointing cameras. In some embodiments, each of the side-pointing cameras is directed to opposing sides. 
     In some embodiments, each of the side-pointing cameras is essentially perpendicular to the front pointing camera surface. 
     There is further provided herein, according to some embodiments of the invention a tip section for a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising: at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith; at least one side-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator associated therewith; and a circuit board assembly comprising: a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera; and a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator and at least one side illuminator. 
     In some embodiments, the tip section further comprises fluid channeling component. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid channeling component comprises: at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one front-pointing camera and/or at least one of front illuminator; at least one fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one side-pointing camera and/or at least one of side illuminator; and a front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool. 
     In some embodiments, the tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras. In some embodiments, each of two side-pointing cameras is directed to opposing sides. 
     In some embodiments, each of side-pointing cameras is essentially perpendicular to the front pointing camera surface. In some embodiments, at least one front and side illuminators comprises a discrete illuminator. In some embodiments, the discrete illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light. In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light. In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light. In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light. In some embodiments, the front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths. 
     In some embodiments, the front-pointing camera and the side-pointing camera independently comprise a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. 
     In some embodiments, the front and side fluid injectors are connected to a same fluid supply channel. In some embodiments, the endoscope is a colonoscope. In some embodiments, fields of view of the front-pointing camera and side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 90 degrees or more. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 120 degrees or more. 
     In some embodiments, at least one of the front and side pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a focal length of approximately 3-100 millimeters. 
     In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the figures and by study of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. The figures are listed below. 
         FIG. 1A  shows an exploded view of a tip section of an endoscope assembly according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 1B  shows an exploded view of a tip section of an endoscope assembly according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a fluid channeling component of an endoscope assembly according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of a fluid channeling component of an endoscope assembly according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a perspective view of a fluid channeling component of an endoscope assembly according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3A  shows an exploded view of a tip section of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3B  shows an exploded view of a tip section of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3C  shows an exploded view of a tip section of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3D  shows an perspective view of a tip section of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of a camera circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 4B  shows a perspective view of a camera circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 4C  shows a perspective view of a camera circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a flexible illumination circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6B  shows a perspective view of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6C  shows a perspective view of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6D  shows a perspective view of a foldable electronic circuit board according to some embodiments; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of an endoscope tip section according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , which show exploded views of a tip section  200  of an endoscope assembly  100  according to an embodiment. 
     An aspect of some embodiments relates to an endoscope assembly  100  having a tip section  200  equipped with two or more front working channels. 
     It is noted that the term “endoscope” as mentioned to herein may refer particularly to a colonoscope, according to some embodiments, but is not limited only to colonoscopes. The term “endoscope” may refer to any instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. 
     Tip section  200  may be turnable by way of flexible shaft (not shown) which may also be referred to as a bending section, for example a vertebra mechanism. 
     According to some embodiments, tip section  200  of an endoscope may include a tip cover  300 , a foldable electronic circuit board  400  and a fluid channeling component  600 . 
     It is noted that the fluid channeling component (fluid channeling component  600 ) depicted in  FIGS. 1A-2C  is only a non limiting example of a possible fluid channeling component. Any fluid channeling components (such as fluid channeling component  900  depicted in  FIG. 7 ) or any other fluid channel and/or tubing system(s) are also covered under the scope of this invention. 
     Tip cover  300  may be configured to fit over the inner parts of the tip section  200  including foldable electronic circuit board  400  and fluid channeling component  600  and to provide protection to the internal components in the inner parts. 
     Tip cover  300  may include a front panel  320  having a front optical assembly  256   a  of front-pointing camera  116   a . Front optical assembly  256   a  may include a plurality of lenses, static or movable, which may provide a field of view of up to essentially 180 degrees. Front optical assembly  256   a  may provide a focal length of up to about 100 millimeters. 
     Optical axis of front-pointing camera  116   a  may be essentially directed along the long dimension of the endoscope. However, since front-pointing camera  116   a  is typically a wide angle camera, its field of view may include viewing directions at large angles to its optical axis. Additionally, front panel  320  may include optical windows  242   a  and  242   b  of illuminators  240   a  and  240   b , respectively. It should be noted that number of illumination sources used for illumination of the field of view may vary. 
     In addition, front panel  320  may include a working channel opening  340   a  of a working channel  640   a , and a second working channel opening  340   b  of a second working channel  640   b  which are further discussed below. 
     Jet channel opening  344  of jet channel  644  may also be located on front panel  320  of tip cover  300 . Jet channel  644  may be configured for providing high-pressure jet of fluid such as water or saline for cleaning the walls of the body cavity. 
     Also located on front panel  320  of tip cover  300  is injector opening  346  of injector channel  646  having a nozzle  348  aimed at front optical assembly  256   a.    
     Injector channel  646  may be fed by a fluid or fluid blend such as water and/or gas and configured for injecting fluid blend (liquid and/or gas) to wash contaminants such as blood, feces and other debris from front optical assembly  256   a  of front-pointing camera  116   a . In addition, the fluid blend may include gas, which may be used for inflating a body cavity. 
     Optionally, injector channel  646  may be configured for cleaning front optical assembly  256   a  and one, two or all of optical windows  242   a  and  242   b.    
     A sidewall  362   a  of tip cover  300  may include an optical assembly  256   b  for side-pointing camera  116   b , which may be similar to front optical assembly  256   a  and optical windows  252   a  and  252   b  of illuminators  250   a  and  250   b  for side-pointing camera  116   b.    
     A sidewall  362   b  of tip cover  300 , which may be similar to sidewall  362   a  and located on the opposite side of tip cover  300 , may include an optical assembly  256   c  for side-pointing camera  116   c , which may be similar to front optical assembly  256   a  and optical windows  262   a  and  262   b  of illuminators  260   a  and  260   b  for side-pointing camera  116   b.    
     Optical axis of side-pointing cameras  116   b  and  116   c  may be essentially directed perpendicular to the long dimension of the endoscope. However, since side-pointing cameras  116   b  and  116   c  are typically a wide angle camera, its field of view may include viewing directions at large angles to its optical axis. 
     According to some embodiments, side injector channels  666   a  and  666   b  may be configured to supply fluids for cleaning any of the tip elements (such as any optical assembly, windows, illuminators, and other elements). Side injectors opening  266   a  and  266   b  of side injector channels  666   a  and  666   b  may be located at distal end of sidewalls  362   a  and  362   b  respectively. Nozzle covers  267   a  and  267   b  may be configured to fit side injectors opening  266   a  and  266   b.    
     Additionally, nozzle covers  267   a  and  267   b  may include nozzles  268   a  and  268   b  which may be aimed at side optical assembly  256   b  and  256   c  and configured for injecting a fluid or fluid blend to wash contaminants such as blood, feces and other debris from side optical assembly  256   b  and  256   c  of side-pointing camera  116   b  and  116   c . Optionally, nozzles  268   a  and  268   b  may be configured for cleaning side optical assembly  256   b  and  256   c  and optical windows  252   a ,  252   b ,  262   b  and/or  262   b.    
     Optionally, injector channel  646  and side injector channels  666   a  and  666   b  may be fed from same channel. 
     It is noted that according to some embodiments, the endoscope tip may include more than one optical window and illuminators on the side and more than one optical window and illuminators on the front. 
     Sidewalls  362   a  and  362   b  may have a form of an essentially flat surface, which assists in directing the cleaning fluid injected from injector channel  666   a  and  666   b  towards side optical assembly  256   b  and  256   c  and optical windows  252   a ,  252   b ,  262   a  and/or  262   b . Lack of such flat surface may result in dripping of the cleaning fluid along the curved surface of tip section  200  of the endoscope without performing the desired cleaning action. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C , which show perspective views of a fluid channeling component  600  of an endoscope assembly  100  according to an embodiment. 
     According to some embodiments, fluid channeling component  600  may be configured as a separate component from foldable electronic circuit board  400  ( FIG. 1 ). This configuration may be adapted to separate the fluid channels and working channels  640   a  and  640   b , which are located in fluid channeling component  600  from the sensitive electronic and optical parts which may be located in the area of foldable electronic circuit board  400  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     According to some embodiments, fluid channeling component  600  may include a proximal fluid channeling section  602  which may have an essentially cylindrical shape, a primary distal channeling section  604   a  and a secondary distal channeling section  604   b . Primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may partially continue the cylindrical shape of proximal fluid channeling section  602  and may have a shape of a partial cylinder (optionally elongated partial cylinder). Primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may form solely two parallel fractions of the cylinder (along the height axis of the cylinder), wherein the third fraction of the cylinder (along the height axis of the cylinder) is missing. Primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may be integrally formed as a unitary block with proximal fluid channeling section  602 . The height of primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may by higher than that of proximal fluid channeling section  602 . In the case of primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may have the shape of the partial cylinder (for example, partial cylinder having only a fraction of a cylinder shape along one side of the height axis) and provide a space to accommodate foldable electronic circuit board  400  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     Proximal fluid channeling section  602  may include integrated screw nuts  606   a  and  606   b , which may be configured for securing tip section  200  ( FIG. 1 ) to the endoscope shaft (not shown). 
     Primary distal fluid channeling section  604   a  and secondary distal channeling section  604   b  may include working channels  640   a  and  640   b  having a working channel openings  340   a ,  340   b  which may be configured for insertion of a medical (such as a surgical) tool, for example, to remove, treat and/or extract a sample of the object of interest found in the colon or its entirety for biopsy. 
     When endoscope assembly  100  is used within a body cavity such as a colon, the endoscope operator advances the endoscope assembly  100  while viewing images and/or video streams transmitted by front-pointing camera  116   a  and two side-pointing cameras  116   b ,  116   c . When a polyp or other pathology is discovered on a wall of colon, the endoscope operator may insert one or more medical tools (not shown) through working channel  640   a  and/or second working channel  640   b  to remove, treat and/or extract a sample of the polyp or its entirety for biopsy. 
     Therefore, it may be beneficial if the endoscope tip section includes a second working channel, which enables the endoscope&#39;s operator to use an additional medical tool, which may be threaded through the second working channel. 
     A second working channel, such as second working channel  640   b  allows the performance of medical procedures (for example more complex procedures) using two medical tools. Second working channel  640   b  provides the endoscope operator a better access to the object of interest and greater flexibility with operating the medical tools while at the same time viewing the procedure by the front pointing camera  116   a  ( FIG. 1 ). This substantially increases the performance of the endoscope. Moreover, the two front working channels may be used simultaneously for medical procedures. An example of such procedure may include surgery that requires stitching which can more easily be performed using two tools from two channels. 
     Advantageously, the configuration of foldable electronic circuit board  400  enables having a slim and compact design improves the performance of the endoscope (particularly, the colonoscope) by allowing the incorporation of additional elements to endoscope tip section  300 , for example having an endoscope tip section with additional working channel, which may be used for threading a second medical tool. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D , which show exploded views of a foldable electronic circuit board  400  of an endoscope assembly  100  according to an embodiment. 
     According to some embodiments, foldable electronic circuit board  400  may have several internal parts including a camera circuit board  440 , a flexible illumination circuit board  420 , a bottom circuit board holder  460  and a front circuit board holder  462 . 
     The internal parts of foldable electronic circuit board  400  may be configured to be assembled, connected or attached together into a condensed structure having a slim and compact design. 
     Additionally, it should be noted that the internal parts of foldable electronic circuit board  400  may be electrically connected and may be configured to share resources as electrical power and electrical signals. 
     Camera circuit board  440  may be configured to carry a front-pointing camera  116   a  and two side-pointing cameras  116   b ,  116   c  which may be similar to front-pointing camera  116   a  and may include a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. 
     According to some embodiments, side-pointing cameras  116   b  and  116   c  may be installed such that their field of views are substantially opposing. However, different configurations and number of side-pointing cameras are possible within the general scope of the current invention. 
     Flexible illumination circuit board  420 , which may be formed as a flexible unitary piece of a PCB layer, may include two main sections  424   a  and  424   b , a front foldable panel  422   a  and four side foldable panels  422   b ,  422   c ,  422   d ,  422   e.    
     When flexible illumination circuit board  420  is in a folded configuration, front foldable panel  422   a  and four side foldable panels  422   b ,  422   c ,  422   d ,  422   e  may be configured to fold downwards forming a right angle with two main sections  424   a  and  424   b.    
     Front foldable panel  422   a , may be configured to carry front illuminators  240   a ,  240   b , which may be associated with front-pointing camera  116   a  and positioned to essentially illuminate front-pointing camera&#39;s  116   a  fields of view. 
     When front foldable panel  422   a  is in a folded configuration, it may form a right angle with main sections  424   a  and  424   b  such that it faces forwards, essentially at the same direction of front-pointing camera&#39;s  116   a  and therefore enables front illuminators  240   a ,  240   b , to face the same direction as front-pointing camera  116   a  and essentially illuminate front-pointing camera&#39;s  116   a  field of view. 
     Side foldable panels  422   b ,  422   c  may be configured to carry side illuminators  250   a ,  250   b  respectively, which may be associated with side-pointing camera  116   b  and positioned to essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  116   b  fields of view. 
     When side foldable panels  422   b ,  422   c  are in a folded configuration, side foldable panels  422   b ,  422   c  may be configured to form a right angle with main section  424   a  such that it faces sideways, essentially at the same direction of side-pointing camera  116   b  and therefore enables side illuminators  250   a ,  250   b , to face the same direction as side-pointing camera  116   b  and essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  116   b  field of view. 
     Side foldable panels  422   d ,  422   e  may be configured to carry side illuminators  260   a ,  260   b  respectively, which may be associated with side-pointing camera  116   c  and positioned to essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  116   c  fields of view. 
     When side foldable panels  422   d ,  422   e  are in a folded configuration, side foldable panels  422   d ,  422   e  may be configured to form a right angle with main section  424   b  such that it faces sideways, essentially at the same direction of side-pointing camera  116   c  and therefore enables side illuminators  260   a ,  260   b , to face the same direction as side-pointing camera  116   c  and essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  116   c  field of view. 
     Front illuminators  240   a ,  240   b  and side illuminators  250   a ,  250   b ,  260   a  and  260   b  may optionally be discrete illuminators and may include a light-emitting diode (LED), which may be a white light LED, an infrared light LED, a near infrared light LED, an ultraviolet light LED or any other LED. 
     The term “discrete”, concerning discrete illuminator, may refer to an illumination source, which generates light internally—in contrast to a non-discrete illuminator, which may be, for example, a fiber optic merely transmitting light generated remotely. 
     Bottom circuit board holder  460  may be configured to hold and support flexible illumination circuit board  420  in its desired folded configuration and secure camera circuit board  440  including side pointing cameras  116   b  and  116   c  and their corresponding illuminators in place. 
     Bottom circuit board holder  460  may include a bottom portion  462  and two side portions  464   a  and  464   b  formed as a unitary piece of rigid material, such as brass, stainless steel, aluminum or any other material. 
     Each of side portions  464   a  and  464   b  may be perpendicularly connected to bottom portion  462  at each opposite side and may have an aperture configured to fit side pointing cameras  116   b  and  116   c.    
     Front circuit board holder  462  may be configured work in conjunction with bottom circuit board holder  460  and hold and support flexible illumination circuit board  420  in its desired folded configuration and secure camera circuit board  440  including front pointing camera  116   a  and its corresponding illuminator in place. 
     Bottom circuit board holder  460  may be formed as a unitary piece of rigid material, such as brass, stainless steel, aluminum or any other material. 
     The use of metal for the construction of bottom circuit board holder  460  and front circuit board holder  462  may improve electric conductivity and allow efficient heat dissipation. According to some embodiments, bottom circuit board holder  460  and front circuit board holder  462  may be used as a heat sink for some or all of the electronic components located within foldable electronic circuit board  400 , particularly illuminators (such as front illuminators  240   a ,  240   b  and side illuminators  250   a ,  250   b ,  260   a  and  260   b ) and reduce overall temperature of the endoscope tip section  200  ( FIG. 1 ). This may solve or at least mitigate a major problem of raised temperatures of endoscope tip and/or any of its components, particularly when using LED illuminators. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C , which show a perspective view of a camera circuit board  770  of an endoscope assembly  800  according to an embodiment. 
     According to some embodiments, foldable electronic circuit board  700  may have several internal parts including: a camera circuit board  770 , a flexible illumination circuit board  720  and a circuit board holder  780 . 
     The internal parts of foldable electronic circuit board  700  may be configured to be assembled, connected or attached together into a condensed structure having a slim and compact design. 
     Camera circuit board  770  which may be similar to camera circuit board  440  ( FIG. 3 ), may be configured to carry a front-pointing camera  716   a  and two side-pointing cameras  716   b ,  716   c  which may be similar to front-pointing camera  116   a  ( FIG. 1 ) and may include a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. 
     According to some embodiments, side-pointing cameras  716   b  and  716   c  may be installed such that their field of views are substantially opposing. However, different configurations and number of side-pointing cameras are possible within the general scope of the current invention. 
     A circuit board holder  780 , which is further discussed below, may be configured to hold and support camera circuit board  770 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 , which shows a perspective view of a flexible illumination circuit board  720  of an endoscope assembly  800  according to an embodiment. 
     Flexible illumination circuit board  720 , which may be formed as a folded unitary piece of a PCB layer, may include illumination circuit board connector  726 , two main sections  724   a  and  724   b , a front foldable panel  722   a  and four side foldable panels  722   b ,  722   c ,  722   d ,  722   e.    
     It is noted that number of front and side foldable panels and associated number of front and side illuminators may vary. 
     When flexible illumination circuit board  720  is in a folded configuration, front foldable panel  722   a  and four side foldable panels  722   b ,  722   c ,  722   d ,  722   e  may be configured to fold downwards forming a right angle with two main sections  724   a  and  724   b.    
     Front foldable panel  722   a , may be configured to carry front illuminators  740   a ,  740   b  and  740   c , which may be associated with front-pointing camera  716   a  ( FIG. 4 ) and positioned to essentially illuminate front-pointing camera&#39;s  716   a  ( FIG. 4 ) fields of view. 
     When front foldable panel  722   a  is in a folded configuration, it may form a right angle with main sections  724   a  and  724   b  such that it faces forwards, essentially at the same direction of front-pointing camera&#39;s  716   a  ( FIG. 4 ) and therefore enables front illuminators  740   a ,  740   b  and  740   c , to face the same direction as front-pointing camera  716   a  ( FIG. 4 ) and essentially illuminate front-pointing camera&#39;s  716   a  ( FIG. 4 ) field of view. 
     Side foldable panels  722   b ,  722   c  may be configured to carry side illuminators  750   a ,  750   b  respectively, which may be associated with side-pointing camera  716   b  ( FIG. 4 ) and positioned to essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  716   b  ( FIG. 4 ) fields of view. 
     When side foldable panels  722   b ,  722   c  are in a folded configuration, side foldable panels  722   b ,  722   c  may be configured to form a right angle with main section  724   a  such that it faces sideways, essentially at the same direction of side-pointing camera  716   b  ( FIG. 4 ) and therefore enables side illuminators  750   a ,  750   b , to face the same direction as side-pointing camera  716   b  ( FIG. 4 ) and essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  716   b  ( FIG. 4 ) field of view. 
     Side foldable panels  722   d ,  722   e  may be configured to carry side illuminators  760   a ,  760   b  respectively, which may be associated with side-pointing camera  716   c  ( FIG. 4 ) and positioned to essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  716   c  fields of view. 
     When side foldable panels  722   d ,  722   e  are in a folded configuration, side foldable panels  722   d ,  722   e  may be configured to form a right angle with main section  724   b  such that it faces sideways, essentially at the same direction of side-pointing camera  716   c  ( FIG. 4 ) and therefore enables side illuminators  760   a ,  760   b , to face the same direction as side-pointing camera  716   c  ( FIG. 4 ) and essentially illuminate side-pointing camera&#39;s  716   c  ( FIG. 4 ) field of view. 
     Front illuminators  740   a ,  740   b  and side illuminators  750   a ,  750   b ,  760   a  and  760   b  may optionally be discrete illuminators and may include a light-emitting diode (LED), which may be a white light LED, an infrared light LED, a near infrared light LED, an ultraviolet light LED or any other LED. 
     Illumination circuit board connector  726  may be configured to connect flexible illumination circuit board  720  to a circuit board holder  780  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D , which show a perspective view of a foldable electronic circuit board  700  of an endoscope assembly  800  according to an embodiment. 
     Circuit board holder  780  may be configured to hold and support flexible illumination circuit board  720  in its desired folded configuration and secure camera circuit board  770  including side pointing cameras  716   b  and  716   c  and their corresponding illuminators in place. 
     Circuit board holder  780  may be formed as a unitary piece of rigid material, such as brass, stainless steel, aluminum or any other material. 
     The use of metal for the construction of circuit board holder  780  may improve electric conductivity and allow efficient heat dissipation. According to some embodiments, circuit board holder  780  may be used as a heat sink for some or all of the electronic components located within foldable electronic circuit board  700 , particularly illuminators (such as front illuminators  740   a ,  740   b  and side illuminators  750   a ,  750   b ,  760   a  and  760   b ) and reduce overall temperature of the endoscope tip section. This may solve or at least mitigate a major problem of raised temperatures of endoscope tip and/or any of its components, particularly when using LED illuminators. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 7 , which shows a perspective view of a tip section  810  of an endoscope assembly  800  according to an embodiment. 
     According to some embodiments, fluid channeling component  900  may be configured as a separate component from foldable electronic circuit board  700  ( FIG. 6 ). This configuration may be adapted to separate the fluid channels and working channels  940   a , which is located in fluid channeling component  900  from the sensitive electronic and optical parts which may be located in the area of foldable electronic circuit board  700  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     According to some embodiments, fluid channeling component  900  may include a proximal fluid channeling section  902 , which may have an essentially cylindrical shape, a primary distal channeling section  904 . Primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may partially continue the cylindrical shape of proximal fluid channeling section  902  and may have a shape of a partial cylinder (optionally elongated partial cylinder). Primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may form a fraction of the cylinder (along the height axis of the cylinder), wherein the other fraction of the cylinder (along the height axis of the cylinder) is missing. Primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may be integrally formed as a unitary block with proximal fluid channeling section  902 . The height of primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may by higher than that of proximal fluid channeling section  902 . In the case of primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may have the shape of the partial cylinder (for example, partial cylinder having only a fraction of a cylinder shape along one side of the height axis) and provide a space to accommodate foldable electronic circuit board  700  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Proximal fluid channeling section  902  may include integrated screw nuts  906   b , which may be configured for securing tip section  810  to the endoscope shaft (not shown). 
     Primary distal fluid channeling section  904  may include working channels  940   a  which may be configured for insertion of a medical (such as a surgical) tool, for example, to remove, treat and/or extract a sample of the object of interest found in the colon or its entirety for biopsy. 
     While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced be interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. 
     In the description and claims of the application, each of the words “comprise” “include” and “have”, and forms thereof, are not necessarily limited to members in a list with which the words may be associated.