Patent ID: 8708891

Claim:
A stereoscopic coupler for mechanically and optically coupling a stereoscopic endoscope having a left optical channel and a right optical channel to a portion of a stereoscopic camera having a left optical channel and a right optical channel so that the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the left optical channel of the stereoscopic camera and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope optically communicates with the right optical channel of the stereos camera, the stereoscopic coupler comprising: means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope; and means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a portion of a stereoscopic camera; wherein the stereoscopic coupler comprises: a left optical channel comprising left optics; a right optical channel comprising right optics; a mechanical actuator for operation by a user; and means for physically moving the left optics of the left optical channel and the right optics of the right optical channel as a single unit in response to movement of the mechanical actuator by the user; wherein the means for mechanically and optically coupling the stereoscopic coupler to a stereoscopic endoscope comprise: an element for ensuring axial alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring axial alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler; an element for ensuring horizontal alignment between the left optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the left optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler and for ensuring horizontal alignment between the right optical channel of the stereoscopic endoscope and the right optical channel of the stereoscopic coupler; and a releasable element for releasably securing the stereoscopic endoscope to the stereoscopic coupler so as to allow for rapid engagement and disengagement of the stereoscopic endoscope with the stereoscopic coupler.