System for detecting the location of an endoscopic device during a medical procedure

• US 10,376,181 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sidar, Itay, Levy, Idan, Mor, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): Neal, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chou, William B
• Application Number:
  US15/045,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20160235340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 600102, 600109, 600114, 600117, 600118, 600137, 600160, 606108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/94 coded with symbols, e.g. text
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders

Abstract

A system for detecting the location of an endoscopic device inside a patients'"'"' body comprises an endoscope assembly with an insertion tube having a set of codes indicative of an insertion depth and a rotational direction of the endoscopic device and a detector to detect the set of codes and calculate the location information. The images captured by the endoscopic device are automatically tagged with corresponding location information. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a system for generating three dimensional images and videos without increasing the number of cameras. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a system having a plurality of sensor devices for generating a real time image map of an endoscopic tip portion traversing a lumen. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a special garment for colonoscopy patients to preserve the modesty of the patients and to protect a physician from spraying fecal matter.

Claims

1. An endoscope assembly comprising:

an endoscope comprising;

a control handle configured to control one or more functions of the endoscope;

an insertion tube having a length extending distally from said control handle and comprising, on an external surface of said length, a plurality of markings; and

at least one imaging assembly at a tip section of the insertion tube configured to generate two-dimensional image data of a plurality of areas in a field of view of the at least one imaging assembly, and to transmit the two-dimensional image data to a processor; and

a detector configured to detect said plurality of markings during insertion of the insertion tube into a subject along a direction of a central longitudinal axis of the insertion tube, and to detect rotation of the insertion tube about the central longitudinal axis of the insertion tube, and transmit data representative of said plurality of markings to the processor; and

a main control unit coupled to said control handle and comprising said processor, wherein said processor is adapted to merge the transmitted two-dimensional image data, based on the transmitted data representative of said plurality of markings, to generate three-dimensional image data of the areas viewed by the at least one imaging assembly.

2. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging assembly includes a plurality of imaging assemblies.

3. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein the detector is adapted to surround a portion of the length of the insertion tube and remain outside of the control handle.