Patent attributes
A variable direction of view endoscope generally comprising an endoscope shaft, an objective optical system disposed in the distal end of the shaft that defines a view vector movable relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a viewing window located in the distal end of the shaft through which the view vector scans over a range of different view vector directions when moved relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A portion of the distal section of the endoscope shaft adjacent and proximal to the viewing window has a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and at least two regions within the cross section are connectable by a straight line that does not lie within or on the boundary of the cross section. In certain embodiments, cross section comprises at least two disjoint closed sets of points.
