Patent ID: 8905921

Claim:
An optical coupler for mounting at a distal end of an optical imaging device for visualizing a surface area, the coupler comprising: a visualization section at one end of the coupler, the visualization section including a proximal surface for engaging a distal end of the optical imaging device, the visualization section including an outer surface spaced apart from the proximal surface, the outer surface extending continuously from a first outer side boundary across to a second opposite outer side boundary of the visualization section, the visualization section comprising one or more elastic materials capable of transmitting an optical image of a surface area to be visualized and capable of allowing an instrument to be delivered through the visualization section; and an attachment section connected to and extending away from the visualization section, the attachment section being dimensioned to be mounted at the distal end of the optical imaging device, at least a surface portion of the proximal surface of the visualization section being directly in front of a light receiving element of the optical imaging device and the surface area to be visualized when the coupler is mounted to the optical imaging device, wherein a portion of the visualization section is non-inflatable, and wherein the outer surface defines a distal wall of the visualization section.