Steerable electronic stereoscopic endoscope

Abstract

A steerable stereoscopic endoscope comprising: a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and an articulating region therebetween; stereo image acquisition means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for acquiring stereo images of a remote site; and means for steering the portion of the shaft distal to the articulating region.

1 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope comprising:
 a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and an articulating region therebetween;   stereo image acquisition means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for acquiring stereo images of a remote site; and   means for steering the portion of the shaft distal to the articulating region.   
     
     
         2 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope according to  claim 1  wherein the stereo image acquisition means comprise a pair of electronic image sensor assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope according to  claim 1  wherein the articulating region of the shaft comprises a wire spine having a distal end and a proximal end, a distal deck mounted to the distal end of the wire spine and a proximal deck mounted to the proximal end of the wire spine. 
     
     
         4 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope according to  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of stacked spacer elements coaxially mounted on the wire spine. 
     
     
         5 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope according to  claim 1  further comprising fiber optic illumination bundles for delivering light to the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . A steerable stereoscopic endoscope according to  claim 1  further comprising a steering and brake assembly mounted to the proximal end of the shaft for controlling the disposition of the portion of the shaft distal to the articulating region of the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . A steerable endoscope comprising:
 a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and an articulating region therebetween; and   image acquisition means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for acquiring an image of a remote site;   wherein the distal end of the shaft comprises at least two decks sealably connected by flexible metal bellows.   
     
     
         8 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 7  further comprising a wire spine having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the wire spine being mounted to a deck and the proximal end of the wire spine being mounted to a deck. 
     
     
         9 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of stacked spacer elements coaxially mounted on the wire spine. 
     
     
         10 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 7  wherein the image acquisition means comprise a pair of electronic image sensor assemblies. 
     
     
         11 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 7  further comprising fiber optic illumination bundles for delivering light to the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 7  further comprising a steering and brake assembly mounted to the proximal end of the shaft for controlling the disposition of the portion of the shaft distal to the articulating region of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . A steerable endoscope comprising:
 a shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and an articulating region therebetween; and   image acquisition means disposed at the distal end of the shaft for acquiring an image of a remote site;   wherein the distal end of the shaft comprises a wire spine having a distal end and a proximal end, a first deck mounted to the distal end of the wire spine and a second deck mounted to the proximal end of the wire spine.   
     
     
         14 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of stacked spacer elements coaxially mounted on the wire spine. 
     
     
         15 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 13  further comprising a third deck disposed intermediate the first deck and the second deck, and further wherein the third deck is slidably mounted on the wire spine. 
     
     
         16 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 15  wherein the first deck and the third deck are sealably connected by flexible metal bellows, and further wherein the second deck and the third deck are sealably connected by flexible metal bellows. 
     
     
         17 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 13  wherein the image acquisition means comprise a pair of electronic image sensor assemblies. 
     
     
         18 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 13  further comprising fiber optic illumination bundles for delivering light to the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . A steerable endoscope according to  claim 13  further comprising a steering and brake assembly mounted to the proximal end of the shaft for controlling the disposition of the portion of the shaft distal to the articulating region of the shaft. 
     
     
         20 .- 45 . (canceled)