Video endoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope, comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;
one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft for illuminating tissue;
an imaging assembly at the distal end of the shaft that includes an image sensor to produce image signals representative of the tissue;
a number of control cables that are selectively tensioned to bend the shaft in a desired direction; and
an articulation joint that includes a number of links that are joined together with spring segments and are bendable under tension of one or more of the control cables.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1. An endoscope, comprising:
-
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;
one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) at or adjacent the distal end of the shaft for illuminating tissue;
an imaging assembly at the distal end of the shaft that includes an image sensor to produce image signals representative of the tissue;
a number of control cables that are selectively tensioned to bend the shaft in a desired direction; and
an articulation joint that includes a number of links that are joined together with spring segments and are bendable under tension of one or more of the control cables. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An endoscopic system, comprising:
-
a control cabinet that includes;
a number of actuators that operate to control the orientation of an endoscope;
an image processor for creating images from image signals produced by an image sensor in the endoscope;
a display for displaying the images; and
one or more valves to control the delivery of an irrigation fluid and insufflation air/gas to one or more lumens in the endoscope;
a handheld controller including a number of controls that can be activated by a user to supply commands to the control cabinet; and
the endoscope being removably connectable to the control cabinet. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An endoscope that is removably connectable to a reusable control cabinet to form a system for examining an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
-
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and one or more lumens therein;
an articulation joint adjacent the distal end of the shaft for allowing the distal end of the shaft to be selectively oriented;
a number of control cables that are tensioned to pull the articulation joint in a desired direction; and
a connector at the proximal end of the shaft for removably connecting the endoscope to the control cabinet, the connector including a manifold that directs a fluid to be delivered to one or more lumens in the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. An endoscope for use in imaging an internal body cavity of a patient, comprising:
-
a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more lumens therein;
means disposed at or adjacent the distal end for allowing the distal end of the shaft to be directed in a desired direction;
an imaging means disposed at the distal end of the endoscope for illuminating a body cavity and producing image signals representative of the body cavity;
means for selectively coupling the proximal end of the shaft to a control cabinet; and
means for selectively directing an irrigation liquid into at least one of the one or more lumens of the endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A valveless endoscope for use with a control cabinet to produce images of a patient'"'"'s body cavity, comprising:
an endoscope having a distal end that is inserted into a patient and a proximal end that is connectable to a control cabinet with a proximal connector, the connector including a manifold having a number of passages therein that selectively direct liquid into one or more lumens of the endoscope with external valves that open and close the passages in the manifold. - View Dependent Claims (38)
Specification