Dual view endoscope

Abstract

An endoscope is provided to examine internal organs with front and rear views. The endoscope comprises a shaft extending from a distal end in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis towards a proximal end, with the distal and proximal ends defining a hollow channel extended there-through. The endoscope further comprises a first lens positioned adjacent to the distal end and configured to receive a first image in a forward direction along the longitudinal axis, with the forward direction generally 180 degree from the rearward direction. The endoscope further comprises a rearview module positioned adjacent to the distal end. The rearview module comprises a second lens configured to be positioned adjacent to the distal end, and receive a second image in a target direction having a directional component in the rearward direction along the longitudinal axis, independently of the first lens receiving the first image in the forward direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An endoscope comprising:
 a shaft having a generally cylindrical distal end receivable in a hollow organ and a proximal end, the shaft extending from the distal end along a longitudinal axis towards the proximal end, the distal end and the proximal end defining a hollow channel extended therethrough;   a first image-receiving module comprising a first image lens and a first illumination device positioned adjacent to the first image lens, the first image-receiving module positioned within the distal end of the shaft and configured to have a first field-of-vision when receiving a first image through the first image lens while the distal end of the shaft is being received in the hollow organ, the first field-of-vision including a view at a zero degree angle to the longitudinal axis in a forward direction pointing from the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft, and   a second image-receiving module comprising a second image lens and a second illumination device positioned adjacent to the second image lens, the second image-receiving module positioned within a diameter of the generally cylindrical distal end of the shaft in an undeployed position and extending at least partially outside of the diameter of the distal end in a deployed position, the second image-receiving module configured to have a second field-of-vision when receiving a second image through the second image lens while in the deployed position, the second field-of-vision including a view at a one hundred-eighty degree angle with respect to the zero degree angle view of the first field-of-vision; and   an actuator configured to move the second image-receiving module from the undeployed position to the deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the first illumination device and second illumination device comprise separate light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the deployed position comprises retro flexion of the second image-receiving module, and
 wherein the actuator comprises one or more cables.   
     
     
         4 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the second image-receiving module comprises a first end including a hinge proximate a terminal end of the distal end and a second end including the second image lens and the second illumination device, and
 wherein the actuator is configured to tilt the second end of the second image-receiving module outside of the diameter of the distal end to the deployed position.   
     
     
         5 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the second image-receiving module includes a support pillar, and
 wherein the actuator is configured to lift at least a portion of the second image-receiving module including the second image lens and the second illumination device on the support pillar outside of the diameter of the distal end to the deployed position.   
     
     
         6 . The endoscope of  claim 5 , wherein support pillar comprises a spring. 
     
     
         7 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the second image-receiving module comprises a first end proximate a terminal end of the distal end and a second end including the second image lens and second illumination device, and
 wherein the actuator is configured to extend the second end of the second image-receiving module beyond the terminal end of the distal end to the deployed position.   
     
     
         8 . The endoscope of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is further configured to tilt the second end of the second image-receiving module. 
     
     
         9 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of cables configured to lift at least a portion of the second image-receiving module including the second image lens and the second illumination device outside of the diameter of the distal end to the deployed position. 
     
     
         10 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an inflatable device, and
 wherein the actuator is configured to lift the second image lens and the second illumination device outside of the diameter of the distal end as the inflatable device is inflated to the deployed position.   
     
     
         11 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a rolling joint including a wheel configured to roll a wheel positioned in a groove to lift at least a portion of the second image-receiving module including the second image lens and the second illumination device outside of the diameter of the distal end to the deployed position. 
     
     
         12 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the second image-receiving module comprises a first end including a rotatable hinge proximate a terminal end of the distal end and a second end including the second image lens and the second illumination device, and
 wherein the actuator is configured to rotate at least a portion the second end of the second image-receiving module including the second image lens and the second illumination device outside of the diameter of the distal end to the deployed position.   
     
     
         13 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main air/water port, the main air/water port opening to the hollow channel and located adjacent to the distal end of the shaft, the main air/water channel configured to channel at least one of a water jet and an air stream out of the main air/water port so that the main air/water channel is used to insufflate air in the hollow organ and squirt water or blow air at the first image lens; and   a periphery air/water channel having a periphery air/water port, the periphery air/water port located proximate to the second image-receiving module, the periphery air/water channel configured to channel at least one of a water jet and an air stream out of the periphery air/water port so that the channeled at least one of the water jet and the air stream is used to clean at least the second image lens.