Patent ID: 7030904

Claim:
A wireless endoscope for wirelessly transmitting image signals, said endoscope comprising: a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end and a central passageway extending therethrough; a handle connected to said proximal end of said tubular portion; a CMOS image sensor positioned in said tubular portion adjacent said distal end thereof for receiving images of a surgical site, said image sensor producing an image signal; said image sensor further including a CMOS pixel array incorporated in said image sensor for receiving images thereon; circuitry means electrically coupled to said image sensor for timing and control of said image sensor; said circuitry means for timing and control being placed adjacent said image sensor in said tubular portion; video processing means electrically communicating with said image sensor for processing said image signal and converting said image signal to a post-video signal, said video processing means being separated from said CMOS imager; a radio transceiver element mounted in said endoscope and electrically communicating with said video processing means for wirelessly transmitting the post-video signal; a power supply mounted in said endoscope for powering said endoscope; and a radio transceiver module placed remote from said endoscope for receiving said post-video signal and for electrically transferring said post video signal to a video display for viewing video images produced by the video display.