Filter for use with imaging endoscopes

• US 10,182,709 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novadaq Technologies ULC (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Fengler, John J. P., Regamey, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Cattungal, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US14/975,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20160270640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 600473-480
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A fluorescence endoscopy video system includes a multi-mode light source that produces light for white light and fluorescence imaging modes. A filter is positioned at the distal end of an imaging endoscope so that the endoscope can produce fluorescence and white light images of a tissue sample.

Claims

1. A color and fluorescence endoscopy system, comprising:

a multi-mode light source that illuminates a tissue sample with a blue illumination light;

a camera that concurrently captures blue reflectance images and a fluorescence image of the tissue sample when the blue illumination light is on;

an image processor that generates a color image from the blue reflectance images and generates a fluorescence/reflectance image by overlaying the at least one fluorescence image and one or more of the blue reflectance images; and

a display that concurrently displays the color image and the fluorescence/reflectance image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode light source illuminates the tissue sample with a red illumination light and the camera captures red reflectance images when the red illumination light is on.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode light source illuminates the tissue sample with a green illumination light and the camera captures green reflectance images when the green illumination light is on.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is located at an insertion end of an endoscope of the endoscopy system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is attached to an external portion of an endoscope of the endoscopy system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises at least one image sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the blue reflectance images and the fluorescence image are captured using the at least one image sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one image sensor comprises a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one image sensor comprises three CMOS image sensors.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one image sensor comprises pixels, wherein each of the pixels is covered by an integrated filter.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the integrated filter comprises a red, green, and blue (RGB).

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode light source comprises a light emitting diode.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode light source comprises a diode laser.

14. A method of color and fluorescence endoscopy, comprising:

illuminating a tissue sample with a blue illumination light from a multi-mode light source;

concurrently capturing blue reflectance images and a fluorescence image of the tissue sample by a camera when the blue illumination light is on;

generating a color image from the blue reflectance images;

generating a fluorescence/reflectance image by overlaying the at least one fluorescence image and one or more of the blue reflectance images; and

concurrently displaying the color image and the fluorescence/reflectance image.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising illuminating the tissue sample with a red illumination light from the multi-mode light source and capturing red reflectance images when the red illumination light is on.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising illuminating the tissue sample with a green illumination light from the multi-mode light source and capturing green reflectance images when the green illumination light is on.