Endoscopic imaging system including removable deflection device
First Claim
1. An imaging endoscope, comprising:
- an endoscopic sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel disposed therein that extends from the proximal end to the distal end;
at least one solid state light source disposed at the distal end of the sheath to illuminate internal body tissues;
an image sensor disposed at the distal end of the sheath;
a deflection device for selectively positioning the distal end of the sheath, the deflection device including;
an elongate shaft having a proximal and a distal end and a steering mechanism for moving the distal end;
wherein the elongate shaft fits within the working channel of the endoscope and engages the distal end of the sheath such that when the distal end of the deflection device is moved, the distal end of the sheath is also moved.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steerable endoscopic sheath has a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel lumen disposed therein. A plurality of solid state light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes are positioned near the distal end of the sheath and are selectively energized to illuminate internal body tissues. An imaging device such as a photo diode or CCD array creates an image from light reflected from the tissue. The distal tip of the endoscopic sheath is selectively moveable with a deflection device that is insertable into the sheath. The deflection device includes a tip deflection mechanism that allows a user to move the tip of the deflection device. With the deflection device inserted in the sheath, movement of the distal tip causes a corresponding movement in the distal tip of the sheath. The distal tip of the sheath has a shape retaining mechanism that allows it to retain the shape imparted by the deflection device once the deflection device is removed from the sheath.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An imaging endoscope, comprising:
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an endoscopic sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel disposed therein that extends from the proximal end to the distal end;
at least one solid state light source disposed at the distal end of the sheath to illuminate internal body tissues;
an image sensor disposed at the distal end of the sheath;
a deflection device for selectively positioning the distal end of the sheath, the deflection device including;
an elongate shaft having a proximal and a distal end and a steering mechanism for moving the distal end;
wherein the elongate shaft fits within the working channel of the endoscope and engages the distal end of the sheath such that when the distal end of the deflection device is moved, the distal end of the sheath is also moved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for imaging internal body tissue, comprising:
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a disposable endoscopic sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, a working channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a number of light emitting diodes at the distal end that are selectively activated to illuminate the body tissue and an image sensor for producing an image of the body tissue; and
a deflection catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and one or more pull wires that move the distal end, the deflection catheter being selectively inserted into the working channel of the sheath to move the distal tip of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A disposable imaging endoscope, comprising:
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an endoscopic sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a plurality of light emitting diodes at the distal end of the sheath that are selectively activated to illuminate internal body tissue;
an image sensor disposed at the distal end of the sheath that transmits electrical signals representative of an image of a tissue sample;
the distal end of the sheath further including a shape retaining mechanism that is movable by a deflection device that is insertable into the lumen, said shape retaining mechanism retaining the shape of the distal end of the sheath after the deflection device is removed from the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of capturing images from an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
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inserting an endoscope into the patient, the endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end, a working channel, a plurality of light emitting diodes that produce light at the distal end of the endoscope and an image sensor for producing an image of the internal body cavity;
selectively positioning the distal end of the endoscope by inserting a deflection catheter into the endoscope and moving a distal tip of the deflection catheter to move the distal end of the endoscope; and
withdrawing the deflection catheter from the endoscope.
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Specification