Did You Know...
...that a workman who left the soap mixing machine on too long was responsible for making Ivory Soap? He was so embarrassed by his mistake that he threw the mess in a stream. Imagine his dismay when the evidence of his error floated to the surface! Result: Ivory soap, the soap that floats.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7976462 | Endoscope designs and methods of manufacture Various embodiments of the present invention comprise endoscopes for viewing inside a cavity of a body such as a vessel like a vein or artery. These endoscopes may include at least one solid state emitter such as a light emitting diode (LED) that is inserted into th... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7699772 | Visual means of an endoscope A visual means of an endoscope comprising at least one optical system or composite optical system arranged at a front area of the endoscope. The at least one optical system or the at least one composite optical system realizes an aperture angle of more than 180° an... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7344494 | Endoscope with variable direction of view module A flexible variable direction of view endoscope with a pivotable view vector and a rotatable distal section. ... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7275873 | Adapter for coupling an external post connector or a BNC connector to an SMA bushing An assembly used to adapt an external post connector, such as a BNC type connector of a microsurgical optic fiber instrument to a threaded SMA type bushing of a light source includes an adapter that can be threaded on the bushing of the light source and is also conn... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7267647 | Endoscope An endoscope has an inserting tube to be inserted into a human body, first and second optical systems integrally secured to a tip end portion of the inserting tube. The first and second optical systems are for observing the in vivo tissues at different magnification... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7160247 | Endoscope with large diameter distal end An endoscope is described in which the diameter of the image relay assembly is less than that of the objective lens assembly. An endoscope sheath is also described for sheathing the endoscope and housing or directing optical fibers for use in illuminating the endosc... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7110124 | Method and apparatus for obtaining geometrical data relating to a canal The invention uses light to determine the distance from the tip of a probe to the internal wall of the canal, and based on the position of the probe, this information is used to generate information about the shape of the canal. Light with a first and a second wavel... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7108657 | Endoscopic visualization apparatus with different imaging systems An endoscopic visualization apparatus has a first imaging system and at least one second imaging system, a first image field being covered by the first imaging system, and a second image field being covered by the second imaging system. The first imaging system and ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7101334 | Optical observation device and 3-D image input optical system therefor An optical observation device for observing 3-D images of an endoscope is disclosed. The optical observation device includes: an image input means having a rod-shaped front part with a sufficiently small diameter for insertion within a living human being, the rod-sh... | 09/05/2006 |
| 6659942 | Endoscope with a deflection system The present invention relates to an endoscope comprising a deflection system for a visual angle of up to 30 degrees which comprises reflective deflection elements. The inventive endoscope is characterized in that the beams which form the image are reflect... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6638216 | Variable view arthroscope A variable-view arthroscope or similar instrument (endoscope, etc.) includes a housing tube with an object input end. The housing tube contains an object input assembly and a portion of a light relay assembly. The object input assembly includes an input l... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6635010 | Endoscope objective Endoscope objective having a viewing direction including an angle< >0° relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope, comprising a lens system imaging the object field into a single image plane disposed orthogonally on the longitudinal axis, and a p... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6626828 | Body cavity-observing apparatus A body cavity-observing apparatus includes an endoscope with an imaging optical system on the front edge thereof, a prism movably mounted on the forefront of the imaging optical system, and an actuator to drive the prism on a given command signal. A diffe... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6589165 | Modularly structured endoscope The present invention is a modularly structured endoscope with an interchangeable image transmission unit and an endoscope casing which includes the optical fiber system. Due to the modular design, the light transmission unit can be repaired independently... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6582359 | Endoscope apparatus for inside wall of blood vessel An endoscope apparatus has a side view endoscope 10 for side viewing an object in a radial direction of a distal end constitutional portion 14 and a balloon catheter 40. With an insert portion 13 of a side view endoscope 10 inserted in an insert tube 41 o... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6508761 | Monocular borescope or endoscope with offset mask A monocular borescope or endoscope is provided with an image relaying means (16) defining a longitudinal axis (L)(and with a viewing means comprising an ocular lens (20) and field mask (18) defining a central axis (C) which is parallel to and offset from ... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6500115 | Endoscope An endoscope is provided having a shaft and a handle extending to the side of the shaft at the proximal end. A mechanism is provided for pivoting the view direction in an observation area and has at least one operating element being engaged with the mecha... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6478730 | Zoom laparoscope A zoom laparoscope having a laparoscope base unit with a proximal end and a distal end and having a sheath with a zoom assembly. In one embodiment, the laparoscope comprises a two dimensional solid state imaging sensor. The laparoscope can contain a sheat... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6364830 | Variable view arthroscope A variable-view arthroscope or like instrument (endoscope, etc.) includes an elongated housing tube extending from an outer control end to an inner image input end that is closed by an input lens or window. A lighting apparatus illuminates a surgical work... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6306082 | Stereoendoscope wherein images having passed through plural incident pupils are transmitted by common relay optical systems The illuminating light transmitted by the light guide inserted through the elongate inserted section is projected out of the distal end surface of the inserted section. The illuminated objects pass through the respective non-superimposed pupils of the two... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6277064 | Surgical instrument with rotatably mounted offset endoscope A surgical endoscopic instrument for operating on anatomical tissue includes a rigid barrel, a shaft extending through the barrel and an offset endoscope mounted on the shaft. The endoscope is offset from the longitudinal axis of the shaft by a transverse... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6254530 | Shielded illumination device for ophthalmic surgery and the like A illuminated surgical instrument (11) includes an optical fiber (21) with a proximal end and a distal end, a connector (15) disposed at the proximal end of the optical fiber, and a handpiece (13) disposed generally at the distal end of the optical fiber.... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6248060 | Rigid endoscope with second illumination system laterally offset from first illumination system A rigid endoscope includes a jacket tube with an optical system and, parallel to the optical axis of the optical system, a first glass fiber bundle which emits a beam to illuminate an object to be examined. A second optical illumination system is directed... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6206822 | Devices and methods for percutaneous surgery Devices and methods for performing percutaneous spinal surgery under direct visualization and through a single cannula are shown. A device (10) is provided which includes an elongated cannula (20) having a first inner diameter (DI) and an outer... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6193650 | Shielded illumination device for ophthalmic surgery and the like A illuminated surgical instrument (11) includes an optical fiber (21) with a proximal end and a distal end, a connector (15) disposed at the proximal end of the optical fiber, and a handpiece (13) disposed generally at the distal end of the optical fiber.... | 02/27/2001 |
| 5980453 | Endoscope with low distortion An endoscope with an eyepiece and an objective lens system used for observing an object in an environmental media. The distal most optical element in the objective lens system is a spherical lens. The spherical lens has a curved distal surface that contac... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5916149 | Shielded illumination device for ophthalmic surgery and the like A illuminated surgical instrument (11) includes an optical fiber (21) with a proximal end and a distal end, a connector (15) disposed at the proximal end of the optical fiber, and a handpiece (13) disposed generally at the distal end of the optical fiber.... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5785645 | Beveled tip illuminator for microsurgery A manually manipulated illuminator used in microsurgery comprises an optic fiber that transmits light through the instrument and emits the light through a beveled end surface of the fiber, the beveled end surface having a leading edge that facilitates ins... | 07/28/1998 |
| 5700236 | Endoscope attachment for changing angle of view The present invention provides an endoscopic sheath for protecting and/or changing an angle of view of an endoscope. The sheath has a distal portion configured to engage a distalmost portion of an endoscope imaging optics. The distal portion houses struct... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5681264 | Shielded illumination device for ophthalmic surgery and the like A surgical illumination probe includes an optical fiber with a proximal end and a distal end, a connector disposed at the proximal end of the optical fiber (the connector being adapted for connection to a source of illumination and for holding the proxima... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5667475 | Endoscopic device An instrument for endoscopic subfascial discission of perforans veins (ESDP) consists of a surgical endoscope (1) and a tube (9). The surgical endoscope (1) contains an optical image recording and transmission system, a fiber-optic lighting system and a w... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5651759 | Method of making arthroscope having a shim for angularly orienting illumination fibers A method for forming an arthroscope having an inclined angle of view includes providing an inner lens tube member, an outer tube member, and an annular shim member. The annular shim member is positioned about an outer peripheral portion of the inner lens ... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5621830 | Rotatable fiber optic joint An endoscope includes an insertion member rotatably mounted to a handle. A first set of optical fibers carried by the handle meets a second set of optical fibers disposed within the insertion member at a joint constructed to allow relative rotation betwee... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5601525 | Hard-type endoscope apparatus A hard-type endoscope apparatus equipped with an inserting portion, a plurality of lenses inserted in the insertion portion, and a lens-barrel holding the lenses, includes a spacer pipe provided in the lens-barrel along the optical path of the lenses. The... | 02/11/1997 |
| 5573493 | Endoscope attachment for changing angle of view The present invention provides an endoscopic sheath for protecting and/or changing an angle of view of an endoscope. The sheath has a distal portion configured to engage a distalmost portion of an endoscope imaging optics. The distal portion houses struct... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5554100 | Arthroscope with shim for angularly orienting illumination fibers A disposable rigid arthroscope having an inclined angle of view includes a frame member, an outer tube member extending distally from the frame member, an inner lens tube member eccentrically disposed within the outer tube member, an optical system dispos... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5263472 | Laryngoscope blade An improvement for laryngoscope blades is disclosed, for expanding the field of view beyond that directly visible to a person performing intubation. A small telescope is provided, preferably integral with the blade, and includes an eyepiece near the laryn... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5190028 | Method for manufacturing a disposable arthroscopic probe A method is provided for assembling an arthroscopic probe which includes bending a linear image-transmitting optical fiber about a heated pivot point so that the distal end of the fiber is oblique to the proximal end. A lens is then attached to the distal... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5170774 | Endoscope with viewable and targetable irrigation and aspiration system An endoscope provides for the examination of, and fluid delivery to, an operating field located in, for example, paranasal sinuses or the anterior base of the skull, for pressurized delivery of fluid and removal of tissue at a visually identified location... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5167220 | Systems and methods for maintaining a clear visual field during endoscopic procedures A nasal sinus endoscope system and method. The system comprises a nasal sinus endoscope having a distal viewing window. A resilient tube is attached to the endoscope such that the distal end of the tube is in proximity to the distal viewing window of the ... | 12/01/1992 |
