Method for capturing and displaying endoscopic maps

• US 20040210105A1
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Endactive Inc
• Inventors: Hoeg, Hans David, Hale, Eric Lawrence, Schara, Nathan Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,381,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles

Abstract

A method for capturing and displaying endoscopic maps.

Claims

1. A method for using an endoscope with a longitudinal axis, a line of sight, and a view to obtain a map of an interior surface, comprising:

a. capturing an initial image associated with an initial view of an initial region of said interior surface;

b. moving said view to a new view of a new region of said interior surface, wherein said new view is known relative to said initial view;

c. capturing a new image associated with said new view; and

d. creating a map comprising said initial and new images wherein said map shows more of said interior surface than shown by said initial image and more of said interior surface shown by said new image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said line of sight remains parallel to said longitudinal axis.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said line of sight remains at a fixed angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said line of sight changes relative to said longitudinal axis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said initial and new views both have orientations which are known relative to the direction of gravity.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said map is a mosaic of said initial and new images.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said map is contiguous.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said map is a constant area projection.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said map is a constant distance projection.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said map is a constant angle projection.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein portions of said map fade in brightness with time elapsed since the regions of said interior surface corresponding to said portions of said map were imaged.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting a location on said map and automatically moving said view to said corresponding location on said interior surface.

13. A method for using an endoscope with a proximal end and a variable line of sight for imaging an interior surface, comprising:

a. holding said proximal end generally stationary; and

b. moving said line of sight through a scan trajectory to image an area.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said scan trajectory is a spiraling path.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said scan trajectory is circular.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising moving said line of sight through at least one additional circular scan trajectory with at least one additional imaged area.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the relative positions of said first and second trajectories are known.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said imaged areas overlap.

19. A method for obtaining an improved endoscopic image of an interior cavity comprising:

a. capturing at least two simple images of a single view; and

b. combining said at least two simple images into a compound image of higher quality than said simple images.