Endoscope Circuit Board Assembly

Abstract

There is provided herein a circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope comprising a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera, a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.

1 . A circuit board assembly for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the assembly comprising:
 a camera circuit board configured to carry at least one front-pointing camera and at least one side-pointing camera;   a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry at least one front illuminator for essentially illuminating the field of view (FOV) of the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator for essentially illuminating the FOV of the side-pointing camera.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more circuit board holders configured to support said flexible illuminator circuit board, said camera circuit board or both. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said circuit board holder comprises at least one niche configured to accommodate at least one of said illuminators, and/or at least one of said cameras. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said camera circuit board is a foldable camera circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said camera circuit board is configured to carry a front-pointing camera and two side-pointing cameras. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are essentially perpendicular to said front pointing camera surface. 
     
     
         8 . A tip section for a multi-camera endoscope the tip section comprising:
 at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith;   at least one side-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator associated therewith; and   a circuit board assembly comprising:   a camera circuit board configured to carry said least one front-pointing camera and said at least one side-pointing camera; and   a flexible illuminator circuit board comprising at least one foldable panel and configured to carry said at least one front illuminator and said at least one side illuminator.   
     
     
         9 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , further comprising a fluid channeling component. 
     
     
         10 . The tip section according to  claim 9 , wherein said fluid channeling component comprises:
 at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning said at least one front-pointing camera and/or said at least one of front illuminator;   at least one side fluid injector configured for cleaning said at least one side-pointing camera and/or said at least one of side illuminator; and   a front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.   
     
     
         11 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein said tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras. 
     
     
         12 . The tip section according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said two side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides. 
     
     
         13 . The tip section according to  claim 11 , wherein each of said side-pointing cameras are essentially perpendicular to said front pointing camera surface. 
     
     
         14 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein said at least one front and side illuminators comprises a discrete illuminator. 
     
     
         15 . The tip section according to  claim 14 , wherein said discrete illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         16 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light. 
     
     
         17 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         18 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light. 
     
     
         19 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light. 
     
     
         20 . The tip section according to  claim 8 , wherein said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)