초록 ▼

An imaging instrument includes a compact hand-held housing having an electronic imaging element supported within a housing, and a plurality of interchangeable instrument heads separably attachable to the housing. Each of the instrument heads includes an optical system disposed in alignment with the

An imaging instrument includes a compact hand-held housing having an electronic imaging element supported within a housing, and a plurality of interchangeable instrument heads separably attachable to the housing. Each of the instrument heads includes an optical system disposed in alignment with the electronic imaging element along an instrument viewing axis. Preferably, the instrument further includes an integral display for displaying at least one captured or real-time video image as viewed through the instrument head of choice. The instrument includes a controller with sufficient programmable logic to capture and store a plurality of imaging images which can be transferred along with audio and/or annotation data relating to a captured image. Corresponding video and audio data can be then transferred using a receiving cradle to a computer which contains software which organizes the stored data for further processing. In a preferred example, the audio files can be transcribed through a network utilizing voice recognition software.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A compact imaging instrument capable of performing multiple examination tasks, said instrument comprising:a hand-gripable housing including an interior;a plurality of instrument heads, at least one of said instrument heads having a contained illumination assembly;mounting means for

[ We claim:] [1.] A compact imaging instrument capable of performing multiple examination tasks, said instrument comprising:a hand-gripable housing including an interior;a plurality of instrument heads, at least one of said instrument heads having a contained illumination assembly;mounting means for interchangeably and releasably mounting each of said plurality of instrument heads to said housing;an electronic image sensor disposed in one of said housing and said plurality of instrument heads;at least one optical element disposed in the interior of at least one of said housing and said plurality of instrument heads, said at least one optical element being aligned to focus an optical image onto said electronic image sensor along a defined optical axis; andtransmission means including at least one first electrical contact disposed in said housing and connected to a contained power source, each of said instrument heads including at least one second electrical contact for engaging said at least one first electrical contact when an instrument head is attached to said housing.