Autosteering vision endoscope
First Claim
1. A system for controlling a distal tip of an endoscope for advancement into a body cavity, comprising:
- an endoscope controller that selectively tensions or relaxes a number of control wires that direct the distal tip of the endoscope in a desired direction;
an image processor that receives images from a sensor at the distal tip of the endoscope; and
a processor that combines images of the body cavity for the determination of an advancement direction in the body cavity, wherein the processor provides control signals to the endoscope controller to tension or relax the control wires such that the distal tip of the endoscope aligns with the determined advancement direction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control mechanism for automatically steering the distal end of an endoscope into a body cavity. During advancement of the endoscope, the control mechanism directs the distal tip to be moved in a sweep pattern. Images obtained during the sweep pattern are combined and analyzed in order to determine the desired direction of advancement of the endoscope. The distal end of the endoscope is then oriented in the direction of the desired advancement direction. An autoexamination feature can be activated that automatically moves the distal tip in a desired sweep pattern. Images of a body cavity are obtained during each sweep pattern for analysis by the physician.
32 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A system for controlling a distal tip of an endoscope for advancement into a body cavity, comprising:
-
an endoscope controller that selectively tensions or relaxes a number of control wires that direct the distal tip of the endoscope in a desired direction;
an image processor that receives images from a sensor at the distal tip of the endoscope; and
a processor that combines images of the body cavity for the determination of an advancement direction in the body cavity, wherein the processor provides control signals to the endoscope controller to tension or relax the control wires such that the distal tip of the endoscope aligns with the determined advancement direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for controlling an endoscope to be advanced into a body cavity comprising:
-
an endoscope having a steering mechanism that is controllable to orient a distal tip of the endoscope in a desired direction and an image sensor for capturing images of the body cavity;
one or more actuators that operate the steering mechanism; and
a processor for controlling the one or more actuators such that the distal tip of the endoscope is moved in a sweep pattern and images of the body cavity are obtained at different positions in the sweep pattern, the processor combining the images so that an advancement direction in the body cavity can be determined, wherein the processor directs the one or more actuators to orient the distal tip of the endoscope in the determined advancement direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for automatically directing a tip of an endoscope to examine a body cavity, comprising:
-
an endoscope having a steering mechanism that is controllable to orient a distal tip of the endoscope in a desired direction;
one or more actuators that operate the steering mechanism to orient the distal tip of the endoscope; and
a processor that controls the one or more actuators to orient the distal tip of the endoscope in a sweep pattern and obtains an image of the body cavity at a number of positions in the sweep pattern for examination. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
Specification