Illumination apparatus for an image sensing means at the distal end of an endoscope

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope includes an illumination carrier and a plurality of micro LEDs each including a main surface from which the emission is made, with a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm. The illumination carrier is associated with the distal end of the endoscope, and the plurality of micro LEDs are arranged on the illumination carrier such that with electrical excitation, the environment of the distal end of the endoscope is at least in some portions illuminated.

1 . A method for operating an illumination apparatus for an image sensor at a distal end of an endoscope, wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an illumination carrier at the distal end with an array of micro LEDs, wherein the micro LEDs each comprise a main surface from which the emission is made and which comprises a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm, comprising:
 illuminating at least one portion of an environment of the distal end of the endoscope by electrical excitation of the micro LEDs. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 pulsed controlling of at least part of the micro LEDs.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 separately controlling at least part of the micro LEDs.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 shifting the illumination carrier to achieve a change in an illumination of the environment of the distal end.   
     
     
         5 . Method for manufacturing an illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope, comprising:
 providing an array of micro LEDs on a carrier foil, wherein the micro LEDs each comprise a main surface comprising a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm from which the emission is made; and   arranging the carrier foil on an illumination carrier which may be associated with the distal end of the endoscope to illuminate, with electrical excitation of the micro LEDs, an environment of the distal end of the endoscope at least in some portions.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the carrier foil is arranged such that the array of micro LEDs comprises a first and a second adjacent group of micro LEDs on a surface region of the illumination carrier, with a first and a second main emission direction which are different with respect to the surface region of the illumination carrier.