Systems and methods for regulating temperature and illumination intensity at the distal tip of an endoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscopy system comprising:
- a shaft having a distal tip;
a viewing element at the distal tip, wherein the viewing element comprises;
an image sensor, anda illuminator, the image sensor having a field of view illuminated by the illuminator;
a circuit in electrical communication with the illuminator;
a controller in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the controller receives an input from the circuit, the input being indicative of a voltage across the first illuminator, and wherein the controller is programmed to;
generate an output indicative of a temperature of the illuminator based on the input and a function defining a relationship between voltage across the illuminator and temperature of the illuminator, andmodify an operational parameter of at least one component of the endoscope system when the output is outside of a threshold range of values for the output of the illuminator.
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Abstract
The present specification describes a system and method for computing the temperature of the tip of a multiple viewing elements endoscope based on a measurement of junction temperatures of light emitting diode (LED) illuminators inside the tip. The measurement of temperature is used for taking corrective action if the temperature exceeds a limit. The temperature measurement is used for optimizing image parameters, as the performance of image sensors is affected by changes in ambient temperature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An endoscopy system comprising:
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a shaft having a distal tip; a viewing element at the distal tip, wherein the viewing element comprises; an image sensor, and a illuminator, the image sensor having a field of view illuminated by the illuminator; a circuit in electrical communication with the illuminator; a controller in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the controller receives an input from the circuit, the input being indicative of a voltage across the first illuminator, and wherein the controller is programmed to; generate an output indicative of a temperature of the illuminator based on the input and a function defining a relationship between voltage across the illuminator and temperature of the illuminator, and modify an operational parameter of at least one component of the endoscope system when the output is outside of a threshold range of values for the output of the illuminator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endoscopy system comprising:
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a shaft having a distal tip; a heat generating component at the distal tip; a circuit in electrical communication with the heat generating component; a controller in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the controller receives an input from the circuit, the input being indicative of a voltage across the heat generating component, and wherein the controller is programmed to; generate an output indicative of a temperature of the heat generating component based on the input and a function defining a relationship between voltage across the heat generating component and temperature of the heat generating component, and activate a fluid supply to supply fluid to the distal tip when the output is outside of a threshold range of values. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An endoscopy system comprising:
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a shaft having a distal tip; a heat generating component at the distal tip; a circuit in electrical communication with the heat generating component; a controller in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the controller receives an input from the circuit, the input being indicative of a voltage across and a current through the heat generating component, and wherein the controller is programmed to; generate an output indicative of a temperature of the heat generating component based on the input and a function defining a relationship between voltage across the heat generating component, current through the heat generating component, and temperature of the heat generating component, and modify an operational parameter of at least one component of the endoscopy system when the output is outside of a threshold range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification