Digital-based medical devices

• US 10,238,462 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Robert J., Lia, Raymond A., Salvati, Jon R., Vivenzio, Robert L., Edwards, Ian K., Goldfain, Ervin, Wolff, Colin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US15/589,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20170239012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00039 provided with input arrangements for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0019 characterised by variable lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3612 with images taken automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 : Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 : using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 : of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 : Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0493 : controlled by voice
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 : for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 : Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 : Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 : characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1208 : Multiple lens hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 : Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 : Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 : Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 : Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making

Abstract

A hand-held medical device includes a housing, an electronic imager, and an optical system aligned with the electronic imager along an imaging axis of the device. An illumination system includes at least one light source for directing light towards a target of interest, as well as a display connected to the electronic imager and attached to the housing. A processor, disposed within the housing, is connected to the electronic imager, the illumination assembly and the display, and includes processing logic and data storage for storing a plurality of images.

Claims

1. A hand-held medical device comprising:

a housing;

an electronic imager;

an optical system aligned with the electronic imager along an imaging axis of said device,

an illumination system including at least one light source for directing light towards a target of interest;

a display connected to the electronic imager and attached to the housing, and

a processor disposed within the housing, the processor being connected to the electronic imager, the illumination assembly and the display, the processor having processing logic and data storage for storing a plurality of images.

2. The medical device as recited in claim 1, in which the optical system comprises at least one focusing optical element configured to automatically adjust focus as a working distance between the target of interest and said device varies wherein the at least one focusing optical element is coupled to the processor.

3. The medical device as recited in claim 2, wherein the optical system, including the focusing optical element, is configured to selectively change the depth of focus relative to a target of interest.

4. The medical device as recited in claim 3, wherein the device is an ophthalmoscope for examining the eye and in which the variability of the focus range permits imaging of different portions of the eye.

5. The medical device as recited in claim 2, wherein the optical system includes an adjustable zoom control for selectively changing the field of view and magnification relative to a target of interest.

6. The medical device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a portable power supply disposed in the housing and connected to the electronic imager, the display, the illumination system and the at least one focusing optical element.

7. The medical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a user interface for operating the instrument.

8. The medical device as recited in claim 1, including at least one positional sensor disposed in the housing.

9. The medical device as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one positional sensor is connected to the processor and is configured to at least one of control and modify at least one operating feature of the device based on a detected signal of the positional sensor.

10. The medical device as recited in claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to one of automatically activate and deactivate the instrument based on a signal produced by the at least one positional sensor.

11. The medical device as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one display feature is controlled by a signal detected by the at least one positional sensor.

12. The medical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a microphone, the processor being programmed to operate the device based on at least one voice command.

13. The medical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device is at least one of an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, a skin measuring microscope, an endoscope, a colposcope, a laryngoscope, an anoscope, a vagiscope and a rhinoscope.

14. The medical device as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting at least one of stored and displayed data to a remote location.

15. The medical device as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmitting means includes at least one data port connected to the processor.

16. The medical device as recited in claim 14, further comprising means for previewing at least one image taken by the imager.

17. The medical device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor includes means for measuring at least one aspect of a target of interest.

18. The medical device as recited in claim 17, wherein the measuring means includes at least one measurement scale or fiducial marks.

19. The medical device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a bacterial resistant coating on the display.

20. The medical device as recited in claim 1, in which the display is integral to said housing.