Types of Electronic Endoscope Cameras

Electronic endoscope cameras can be mainly divided into the following categories based on technology application scenarios:

CCD Electronic Endoscope Camera: It uses a charge-coupled device (CCD) as the image sensor. CCD sensors have the characteristics of resolution, excellent light sensitivity, and low noise, which can capture images with rich details and clear picture quality. It is suitable for medical diagnosis with extremely high image quality, such as gastroscopy, where doctors can accurately observe the subtle lesions of the gastrointestinal mucosa. However, the manufacturing cost of CCD sensors is relatively high, and size is relatively large, resulting in high equipment cost and limited flexibility.

CMOS Electronic Endoscope Camera: It uses a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS as the image sensor. CMOS sensors have the advantages of low cost, low power consumption, and high integration. In recent years, there has been a significant improvement image quality, which can meet most routine inspection needs, such as internal inspection of industrial pipelines, which can transmit clear images in real-time. It also has a fast acquisition speed, suitable for real-time monitoring applications. However, in low-light environments, its imaging quality may not be as good as CCD sensors.

Fiber Optic Endoscope Camera: It transmits image signals through a fiber optic bundle. The front end is a hard small section, and the insertion part is composed of a soft bendable fiber optic bundle, which is convenient for deepening into the tortuous parts of the human body or the complex pipelines of industrial equipment. It can directly observe internal situation through the eyepiece, or it can be connected to an image acquisition device to record images. It is often used in bronchoscopy of the lungs which can reach the small bronchi deep in the lungs and provide a basis for the diagnosis of respiratory system diseases. Its advantages are soft and flexible, can be bent and can reach complex parts; the disadvantage is that the image resolution is relatively low, and the fiber optic bundle is prone to damage.

Video Electronic Endoscope Camera: It uses digital color CCD or CMOS imaging devices, which convert image signals into video signals for output, and are matched with image processing centers and monitors. The image clear and has high resolution, and can provide a variety of image enhancement and processing functions, which is convenient for doctors to observe and analyze. It is widely used in laparoscopic surgeries in the medical field, providing clear vision for surgical operations; in the industrial field, it is used for internal inspection of large equipment, helping technicians locate fault points. It is easy to operate and has a wide range of applications, but the equipment cost is relatively high.

Micro Electronic Endoscope Camera: It has small volume and can enter narrow spaces. For example, the Medigus SCOUTCAM 1.2 micro camera with a diameter of only 1.2 can be integrated into a variety of devices, suitable for internal inspection of small pipelines and precision parts, as well as for checking specific small parts of the human body, as observing small lesions in the ear and throat. The resolution and field of view may be limited, and it is necessary to choose according to the specific application scenario.