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.
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.
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.