Non-tethered macro-to-micro endoscope

• US 20030009086A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Black, Michael D., Robinson, Terry E., Prasad, Purna
• Granted Patent: US 6,869,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof

Abstract

An endoscope to perform non-tethered macroscopy and microscopy at the same time is provided. An electromagnetic source is used to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body. An image detector is used to detect the reflected electromagnetic energy from the tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images. A macro-to-micro lens set is used to change the magnification of the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector with two or more different magnification levels. A filter set is used to filter the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector. Furthermore, the endoscope includes a flexible shaft. The distal end of the shaft includes a spread and spot means to spread and spot the electromagnetic energy at the tissue. A processing means is also included for processing the detected images.

Claims

1. A non-tethered macro-to-micro endoscope, comprising:

(a) an electromagnetic source to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body;

(b) an image detector to detect reflected electromagnetic energy from said tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images;

(c) a macro-to-micro lens set to change the magnification of said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector simultaneously with two or more different magnification levels; and

(d) a filter set to filter said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector, wherein said filter set comprises at least one type of filter.

2. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic source is a light source or a modulated energy source in an electromagnetic spectrum.

3. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control means to control said electromagnetic source.

4. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image detector comprises one or more CCD cameras, one or more ultrasound transducers, one or more infrared transducers, or one or more microwave transducers.

5. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control means to control said macro-to-micro lens set.

6. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said magnification ranges from 1X to 200X.

7. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a control means to control said filter set.

8. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filter set comprises a filter for changing luminescence.

9. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filter set comprises a filter for changing chromiscence.

10. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a spread and spot means to spread and spot said electromagnetic energy at said tissue.

11. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a processing means for processing said detected images.

12. The endoscope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processing means further comprises means for magnification, staining or electronic filtering.

13. The endoscope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processing means processes said detected images in real-time.

14. The endoscope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processing means further comprises means for image localization.

15. The endoscope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processing means further comprises means for computerized image navigation to navigate said endoscope to a marked location in said detected image.

16. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a user-hand control panel to control said endoscope.

17. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a voice command control system to control said endoscope.

18. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channels extending through said endoscope.

19. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft is a flexible shaft or a rigid shaft.

20. The endoscope as set forth in claim 18, further comprises control means to control said shaft.

21. The endoscope as set forth in claim 18, wherein said shaft comprises two or more telescopic segments to retract or extend said shaft.

22. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for displaying said images.

23. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications between said endoscope and processing means.

24. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endoscope operates with or without a translucent medium.

25. The endoscope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endoscope is used as a catheter-based endoscope, a percutaneous endoscope, a transvascular endoscope or a trans-lymphatic endoscope.

27. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein said endoscopy is performed with or without a translucent medium.

28. The method as set forth in claim 26, wherein said endoscopy is a catheter-based endoscope, a percutaneous endoscope, a transvascular endoscope or a trans-lymphatic endoscope.

30. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said electromagnetic source module is a light source or a modulated energy source in an electromagnetic spectrum.

31. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a control means to control said electromagnetic source module.

32. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said image detector module comprises one or more CCD cameras, one or more ultrasound transducers, one or more infrared transducers, or one or more microwave transducers.

33. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a control means to control said macro-to-micro lens set module.

34. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said magnification ranges from 1X to 200X.

35. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a control means to control said filter set module.

36. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said filter set module comprises a filter for changing luminescence.

37. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said filter set module comprises a filter for changing chromiscence.

38. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a spread and spot means module to spread and spot said electromagnetic energy at said tissue.

39. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a processing means for processing said detected images.

40. The endoscope as set forth in claim 39, wherein said processing means further comprises means for magnification, staining or electronic filtering.

41. The endoscope as set forth in claim 39, wherein said processing means processes said detected images in real-time.

42. The endoscope as set forth in claim 39, wherein said processing means further comprises means for image localization.

43. The endoscope as set forth in claim 39, wherein said processing means further comprises means for computerized image navigation to navigate said endoscope to a marked location in said detected image.

44. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a user-hand control panel to control said endoscope.

45. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a voice command control system to control said endoscope.

46. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a plurality of channels extending through said endoscope.

47. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft is a flexible shaft or a rigid shaft.

48. The endoscope as set forth in claim 47, further comprises control means to control said shaft.

49. The endoscope as set forth in claim 47, wherein said shaft comprises a distal shaft module, wherein said distal shaft module comprises two or more telescopic segments to retract or extend said distal shaft.

50. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising means for displaying said images.

51. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a wireless communications between said endoscope and processing means.

52. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said endoscope operates with or without a translucent medium.

53. The endoscope as set forth in claim 29, wherein said endoscope is used as a catheter-based endoscope, a percutaneous endoscope, a transvascular endoscope or a trans-lymphatic endoscope.

26. A method of performing non-tethered macro-to-micro endoscopy, comprising the step of:

(a) providing an electromagnetic source to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body;

(b) providing an image detector to detect reflected electromagnetic energy from said tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images;

(c) providing a macro-to-micro lens set to change the magnification of said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector simultaneously with two or more different magnification levels; and

(d) providing a filter set to filter said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector, wherein said filter set comprises at least one type of filter.

29. A non-tethered macro-to-micro endoscope with a plurality of modules, comprising:

(a) an electromagnetic source module to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body;

(b) an image detector module to detect reflected electromagnetic energy from said tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images;

(c) a macro-to-micro lens set module to change the magnification of said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector simultaneously with two or more different magnification levels; and

(d) a filter set module to filter said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector, wherein said filter set comprises at least one type of filter.

54. A method of performing non-tethered macro-to-micro endoscopy with a plurality of modules, comprising the step of:

(a) providing an electromagnetic source module to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body;

(b) providing an image detector module to detect reflected electromagnetic energy from said tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images;

(c) providing a macro-to-micro lens set module to change the magnification of said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector simultaneously with two or more different magnification levels; and

(d) providing a filter set module to filter said reflected electromagnetic energy at said image detector, wherein said filter set comprises at least one type of filter.

55. The method as set forth in claim 54, wherein said endoscopy is performed with or without a translucent medium.

56. The method as set forth in claim 54, wherein said endoscopy is a catheter-based endoscope, a percutaneous endoscope, a transvascular endoscope or a trans-lymphatic endoscope.

57. The method as set forth in claim 54, further comprising a shaft, wherein said shaft is a flexible shaft or a rigid shaft.

58. The method as set forth in claim 57, further comprising the step of providing a distal shaft module to said shaft, wherein said distal shaft module comprises two or more telescopic segments to retract or extend said distal shaft.