Robotic endoscope with wireless interface

• US 20050065400A1
• Filed: 08/02/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Couvillon, Lucien Alfred Jr., Banik, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,097,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0053 using distributed actuators, e.g. artificial muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0058 using shape-memory elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;

(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;

(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;

(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and

(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and

(b) a control and display unit, which further comprises;

(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;

(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers ; and

(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers.

2. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portable power source comprises a battery.

3. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more electronically controlled actuators comprise one or more electroactive polymer actuators.

4. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control and display unit comprises a personal computer.

5. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control portion further comprises a manual steering device converting manual movements into the control signals to be sent to the one or more actuators via the first and second wireless transceivers.

6. The endoscope apparatus of claim 5, wherein said steering device comprises a joystick.

7. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises an energy source outputting energy and an imaging detector detecting reflected energy.

8. The endoscope apparatus of claim 7, wherein said energy source comprises a light source.

9. The endoscope apparatus of claim 8, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The endoscope apparatus of claim 7, wherein said imaging detector comprises a camera.

11. The endoscope apparatus of claim 10, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS camera.

12. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said endoscope portion further comprises a working channel.

13. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said endoscope portion further comprises a control handle operable by a user, disposed at a proximal end of said endoscope portion, and integrated into said endoscope at said proximal end.

14. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portable power source and said wireless interface are disposed within said control handle.

15. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a remote server coupled to the control and display unit.

16. The endoscope apparatus of claim 15, wherein said control and display unit further comprises a network access device to access said remote server over a network.

17. The endoscope apparatus of claim 16, wherein said network access device comprises a modem.

18. The endoscope apparatus of claim 15, wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope inventory.

19. The endoscope apparatus of claim 15, wherein remote server is adapted to perform patient scheduling.

20. The endoscope apparatus of claim 15, wherein said remote server comprises a database of patient data and examination images.

21. The endoscope apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transceiver communicates identifying data for said endoscope portion automatically to said control and display unit.

22. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:

providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;

(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;

(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;

(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;

(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators;

(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and

(b) a control and display unit comprising;

(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;

(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and

(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;

inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and

examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said electronically controlled actuators comprise electroactive polymer actuators.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said control and display unit comprises a personal computer.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said control portion further comprises a manual steering device converting manual movements by an operator to control signals for said one or more actuators, wherein said operator operates said manual steering device to control said actuators.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said sensor comprises a light source and a camera.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising conducting a surgical procedure within said lumen using said endoscope apparatus.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope inventory.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said remote server is adapted to perform patient scheduling.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said remote server further comprises a database and said remote server is adapted to access patient data and images stored within said database.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein data identifying said endoscope portion is automatically sent from said endoscope portion to said control and display unit.

33. A method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals comprising:

detecting an identifier associated with each single use endoscope at one or more hospitals;

sending the identified single use endoscope information to a central server along with information regarding scheduled procedures;

determining single use endoscope future requirements at one or more hospitals based on said scheduled procedures and said identified single use endoscope information;

forwarding said single use endoscope future requirements to a manufacturing facility that manufactures said single use endoscopes; and

scheduling a manufacturing operation and a shipping operation to supply said single use endoscope future requirements to said one or more hospitals prior to complete inventory depletion.