Endoscope with panoramic view

• US 20040249247A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Given Imaging Limited (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Iddan, Gavriel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/836,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0627 for variable illumination angles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

An endoscope capable of capturing images of an in-vivo area behind a distal end of the endoscope'"'"'s tube. The endoscope may have an imaging unit that may, for example, include a reflective surface that reflects an image of an area surrounding such tube onto an image sensor. Other optical systems may be used for imaging behind one end of an endoscope or imaging device.

Claims

1. A method of imaging an in-vivo area comprising intruding an endoscope into a body lumen and capturing images of an in-vivo area behind a distal end of said endoscope.

2. The method as in claim 1, comprising illuminating said in-vivo area.

3. The method as in claim 1, comprising capturing images reflected from a reflecting surface onto an image sensor.

4. The method as in claim 1, comprising identifying a position of a subject of said images.

5. The method as in claim 1, comprising displaying a panoramic image of an in-vivo area.

6. The method as in claim 1, comprising capturing a plurality of panoramic images and combining said panoramic images into a chain of images depicting a body lumen.

7. A method of endoscopy comprising capturing images from an in vivo area surrounding a tube of an endoscope.

8. The method as in claim 7, comprising reflecting light from said area onto an imager situated perpendicular to said area.

9. The method as in claim 7, comprising identifying a direction of a source of said image.

10. The method as in claim 7, comprising illuminating an area around a perimeter of said tube.

11. The method as in claim 7, comprising displaying a panoramic image of said area.

12. The method as in claim 7, comprising passing a tool through a channel ending on said perimeter of said tube.

13. The method as in claim 7, comprising rotating a mirror within said tube of said endoscope.

14. An endoscope comprising a reflector to reflect onto an image sensor images from an in-vivo area, said in-vivo area surrounding a tube of an endoscope and behind a distal end of said endoscope.

15. The endoscope as in claim 14, comprising a tool channel with an exit on a perimeter of said endoscope tube.

16. The endoscope of claim 14, comprising a reflective surface capable of reflecting images of said area onto an image sensor.

17. The endoscope of claim 16, where said reflective element is a curved mirror.

18. The endoscope of claim 14, comprising illumination units facing outwards from a perimeter of said tube.

19. The endoscope of claim 14, comprising a rotating reflective element.

20. A system comprising an endoscope to capture images of an in-vivo area behind a distal end of said endoscope.

21. A system as in claim 20, comprising a reflective surface to reflect images onto an image sensor.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein said image sensor is to capture panoramic images of an area surrounding an outside perimeter of a tube of said endoscope.

23. A system comprising an endoscope to capture images of an in-vivo area surrounding a tube of said endoscope.

24. The system as in claim 23, comprising a channel ending on a perimeter of said tube.

25. The system as in claim 23, comprising a rotating mirror within said tube.

26. A method comprising reflecting onto an image sensor an image of an in-vivo area surrounding a tube of an endoscope and behind a distal end of said endoscope.

27. The method as in claim 26, comprising illuminating said area with illumination directed outward from a perimeter of said tube.

28. The method as in claim 26, wherein said reflecting comprises reflecting said image off of a curved mirror.