The AirCam is a clip-on optical coupler with zoom capabilities. It clips onto a standard Hopkins rod lens used for rigid endoscopy. It transmits high definition wireless video to a laparoscopic stack. This work was undertaken in collaboration with Mkhokheli Ncube.
The AirCam

Rationale for the design

Endoscopes are ubiquitous in medicine. Whether they are flexible fibrescopes or Hopkins rod lens telescopes they all share the need for a camera adapter, cable to a processing unit on a laparoscopic stack.
These cameras are heavy, cumbersome due to the cable and expensive. Wireless video transmission overcomes these limitations.
The AirCam in use with a flexible cystoscope.

Features of the AirCam

•            High definition (1080 x 720) wireless video transmission to a traditional laparoscopic stack.
•            An Ouman optical coupler with zoom (18-35mm) and focus rings
•            Replacement of the traditional wired external clip on camera, cable and processing unit with a C-mount CMOS camera.
•            Low cost off the shelf components used.
•            Imperceptible latency of < 200ms.
•            Long battery of over 2 hours, using a 1200 mAh LiPo battery.
•            Light weight and no tethering cables.

How it works

Schematic plan of the AirCam.

Video rendering

Image quality from the AirCam (left) and industry standard endoscope camera (right).

Latency

Near real-time wireless video transmission with a virtually imperceptible latency of < 200ms. Left above is photograph of mobile phone stopwatch, and right image is photograph of computer monitor with wireless transmission from camera.

Early prototype

Video of early prototype

Future developments

Mkhokheli Ncube’s ergonomic handle design for the AirCam.