Claims
- 1. An image acquisition system for medical use, comprising:
- a transmission device, having a first end adapted for insertion near an area to be imaged, having a second end adapted for receiving an image of the area to be imaged, and having an outer surface defining an outer bound of said transmission device;
- an illuminating device, producing illumination to be channeled within said outer surface, from said second end to said first end, said illuminating device coupling said light to be channeled to only a portion of said transmission device, so that said illumination to be channeled is channeled to only a portion of said first end of said transmission device;
- an image from said area to be imaged being coupled along only a portion of said transmission device from said first end to said second end.
- 2. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said illuminating device is a fiber optic device which carries light.
- 3. A system as in claim 2 further comprising an image acquisition device, located at said second end, and acquiring an image which has been coupled along said transmission device from said first end to said second end.
- 4. A device as in claim 2 wherein light is channeled to a stationary bundle.
- 5. A device as in claim 2 wherein said light is channeled to a moving bundle.
- 6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a specified section of the transmission device is dedicated to illuminating the area to be imaged and a second specific section of the illuminating device varies over time.
- 7. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a channeling device formed by a notch.
- 8. An image acquisition endoscope for medical use, comprising:
- a fiber optic bundle, operating to transmit light between its first end and its second end;
- a light source, producing light which is passed in a portion of said bundle from said first end to said second end;
- a light receiving device, receiving light which is coupled in said fiber optic bundle from said second end to said first end; and
- a element which operates said fiber optic bundle such that said portions change over time.
- 9. A device as in claim 8 wherein said device is a rotating device which rotates said element.
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application 60/022,023, filed Jul. 11, 1996.
US Referenced Citations (6)