Robotic endoscope with wireless interface
First Claim
1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
- (a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit, which further comprises;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
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(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit, which further comprises;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
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providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators;
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals comprising:
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detecting an identifier associated with each single use endoscope at one or more hospitals;
sending the identified single use endoscope information to a central server along with information regarding scheduled procedures;
determining single use endoscope future requirements at one or more hospitals based on said scheduled procedures and said identified single use endoscope information;
forwarding said single use endoscope future requirements to a manufacturing facility that manufactures said single use endoscopes; and
scheduling a manufacturing operation and a shipping operation to supply said single use endoscope future requirements to said one or more hospitals prior to complete inventory depletion.
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Specification