Intrauterine imaging system

• US 20040122327A1
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amir Belson, Doron Kreiser
• Original Assignee: Amir Belson, Doron Kreiser
• Inventors: Belson, Amir, Kreiser, Doron
• Application Number:
  US10/152,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122327A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/442 without pivotal connections, e.g. using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00438 connectable to a finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/445 with force indication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/447 with force limitation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4325 of the uterine cavities, e.g. uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6834 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6875 Uterus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

An obstetrical imaging system includes a uteroscope or video-uteroscope for intrauterine imaging, a control unit for operating the uteroscope, a computer imaging station with a video monitor for viewing the images captured by the optical imaging system and a recording system for recording the images. The uteroscope includes an optical imaging system, which preferably includes a panoramic lens for viewing the entire uterine cavity in one image, mounted on an elongated shaft for insertion into the patient'"'"'s uterus. One or more transparent inflatable balloons are mounted on the elongated shaft surrounding the optical imaging system. An instrument channel is provided in the shaft of the uteroscope for insertion of instruments, such as a suction tube, external to or in between the transparent inflatable balloons.

Claims

1. An intrauterine imaging system, comprising:

an optical imaging system mounted on an elongated shaft configured for insertion into a uterine cavity of a patient; and

a transparent inflatable balloon mounted on the elongated shaft surrounding the optical imaging system, wherein the transparent inflatable balloon is configured to substantially fill the uterine cavity when inflated.

2. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a miniaturized video camera.

3. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is rigid.

4. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is flexible.

5. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, wherein the elongated shaft is articulable.

6. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a display monitor for displaying images of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity from the optical imaging system.

7. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 1, wherein the optical imaging system is equipped with a panoramic lens for simultaneously imaging a large portion of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity.

8. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 7, further comprising a computer imaging station with a display monitor for displaying a panoramic image of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity.

9. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 7, wherein the computer imaging station is configured with pan and zoom functions for displaying images of selected portions of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity on the display monitor.

10. An intrauterine imaging system, comprising:

an optical imaging system mounted on an elongated shaft configured for insertion into a uterine cavity of a patient; and

a multiplicity of transparent inflatable balloons mounted on the elongated shaft surrounding the optical imaging system.

11. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 10, wherein the multiplicity of inflatable balloons are configured to substantially fill the uterine cavity when inflated.

12. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 10, wherein the optical imaging system comprises a miniaturized video camera.

13. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 10, further comprising a display monitor for displaying images of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity from the optical imaging system.

14. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 10, wherein the optical imaging system is equipped with a panoramic lens for imaging a large portion of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity.

15. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 14, further comprising a computer imaging station with a display monitor for displaying a panoramic image of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity.

16. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 15, wherein the computer imaging station is configured with pan and zoom functions for displaying images of selected portions of the interior of the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity on the display monitor.

17. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 10, further comprising an instrument channel within the elongated shaft terminating in a distal instrument port positioned between the multiplicity of inflatable balloons.

18. The intrauterine imaging system of claim 17, further comprising a suction tube sized and configured for insertion through the instrument channel.