Optical coupler for an endoscope

Abstract

Companion and accessory devices for endoscopes are provided that include an optical coupler. The optical coupler comprises an attachment section comprising one or more elastic material(s) and dimensioned to be removably attached to a distal end of the endoscope and a visualization section in contact with the attachment section and at least partially surrounds a distal surface of the endoscope. The visualization section is configured to allow transmission of an optical image therethrough. The coupler further includes one or more supporting elements extending away from the attachment section or the visualization section for maintaining the endoscope substantially within the center of a body lumen as the endoscope advances therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical coupler configured to cooperate with an endoscope, the optical coupler comprising;
 an attachment section comprising one or more elastic material(s) and dimensioned to be removably attached to a distal end of the endoscope;   a visualization section in contact with the attachment section and at least partially surrounding a distal surface of the endoscope, the visualization section being configured to allow transmission of an optical image therethrough; and   one or more supporting elements extending away from the attachment section or the visualization section.   
     
     
         2 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more supporting elements are elastic. 
     
     
         3 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more supporting elements extend laterally away from the attachment section. 
     
     
         4 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the optical coupler is configured for advancement through a lumen within a patient, the one or more supporting elements being dimensioned to maintain the position of the optical coupler relatively in the center of the lumen. 
     
     
         5 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the endoscope comprises a tube with a longitudinal axis, the one or more supporting elements extending at an angle transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The optical coupler of  claim 1  wherein the visualization section includes an outer surface extending distal to the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         7 . The optical coupler of  claim 6 , wherein the outer surface is spaced apart from the proximal surface by a length equal to a reference distance selected from values in the depth of field distance range of the optical imaging system. 
     
     
         8 . The optical coupler of  claim 7 , wherein the reference distance is in the lower 10% of values in the depth of field distance range of the optical imaging system 
     
     
         9 . The optical coupler of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the outer surface is within a field of view of the optical imaging system when the attachment section is mounted at the distal end of the optical imaging system. 
     
     
         10 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material(s) have a durometer of from 40-95 on the Shore 00 scale. 
     
     
         11 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material(s) are selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomers, silicone gels, albumin based gels, mineral oil based gels, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, crosslinked polysiloxane, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyethylene glycol, poly(methacrylic acid), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment section is integral with the visualization section. 
     
     
         13 . The optical coupler of  claim 12 , wherein the visualization section is distal of the attachment section when the attachment section is coupled to the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         14 . The optical coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the visualization section has a central opening overlying at least a portion of the lens of the endoscope when the attachment section is coupled to the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         15 . An optical imaging system for visualizing a surface area in a patient, the system comprising:
 an endoscope having an elongate flexible shaft with proximal and distal end and a lens at the distal end of the shaft; and   an optical coupler comprising:
 an attachment section removably coupled to the distal end of the endoscope and comprising one or more elastic material(s); 
 a visualization section in contact with the attachment section and at least partially surrounding a distal surface of the endoscope, the visualization section being configured to allow transmission of an optical image from the lens therethrough; and 
 one or more supporting elements extending away from the attachment section or the visualization section. 
   
     
     
         16 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more supporting element are elastic. 
     
     
         17 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more supporting elements extend laterally away from the attachment section. 
     
     
         18 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the optical coupler is configured for advancement through a lumen within a patient, the one or more supporting elements being dimensioned to maintain the position of the endoscope relatively in the center of the lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more supporting elements extending at an angle transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongate flexible shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the visualization section includes an outer surface extending distal to the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         21 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the outer surface is spaced apart from the lens of the endoscope by a length equal to a reference distance selected from values in the depth of field distance range of the optical imaging system. 
     
     
         22 . The optical imaging system of  claim 21 , wherein the reference distance is in the lower 10% of values in the depth of field distance range of the optical imaging system 
     
     
         23 . The optical imaging system of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the outer surface is within a field of view of the lens when the attachment section is mounted at the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         24 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic material(s) have a durometer of from 40-95 on the Shore 00 scale. 
     
     
         25 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic material(s) are selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomers, silicone gels, albumin based gels, mineral oil based gels, epoxies, polyurethanes, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, crosslinked polysiloxane, polyvinyl alcohol, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyethylene glycol, poly(methacrylic acid), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment section is integral with the visualization section. 
     
     
         27 . The optical imaging system of  claim 26 , wherein the visualization section is distal of the attachment section when the attachment section is coupled to the distal end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         28 . The optical imaging system of  claim 15 , wherein the visualization section has a central opening overlying at least a portion of the lens of the endoscope when the attachment section is coupled to the distal end of the endoscope.