Tube for inspecting internal organs of a body

• US 20060025650A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ETView, Ltd (ETView Medical Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ETView, Ltd (ETView Medical Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gavriely, Oren
• Application Number:
  US10/529,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00073 with externally grooved shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/121 provided with means for cleaning post-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 : for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 : Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 : for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 : by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0833 : Measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 : Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 : Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 : Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 : Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0073 : Multi-lumen tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/008 : Sensor means, e.g. for sensing reflux, acidity or pressure sensors for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00; sensors for inflation control A61M25/1018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 : Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0411 : with means for differentiating between oesophageal and tracheal intubation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0461 : Nasoendotracheal tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 : combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 : Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0484 : at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0488 : Mouthpieces; Means for guiding, securing or introducing the tubes guiding or introducing with laryngoscopes A61B1/267; holding devices on the body A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 : Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/435 : partial O2 pressure (P-O2)

Abstract

An inspection tube (20) for use in the medical practice, in which sensors, such as a miniature electronic camera, are incorporated in the distal face of the tube. The sensors receive energy supplied via conduits (24, 26, 28) running along the length of the tube, preferably embedded within the wall. Signals of the sensors are transmitted to the rear of the tube where they are fed into receivers. Sensor cleaning can be affected in some embodiments by conducting cleaning agents through a channel in the wall of the tube. An alarm procedure can be affected by comparing sensed pattern with a reference base pattern and defining a critical deviation from the reference base.

Claims

1. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body wherein an imaging sensor is incorporated in the anterior face of said tube and wherein:

at least one conduit of energy to activate said imaging sensor is associated with the wall of said tube;

at least one conducting element for transmitting signals of said imaging sensor to the rear end of said tube, and

at least one receiver for said signals.

2. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 1 and wherein the wall of said tube comprises a channel.

3. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 2 and wherein the wall of said tube comprises a totally embedded channel.

4. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 2 and wherein the wall of said tube comprises a recessed channel.

5. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 1 and wherein a lighting element is associated with said anterior face of said tube.

6. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 5 and wherein said lighting element is an optical fiber running along the wall of said tube.

7. A multifunctional tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body as in claim 5 and wherein said lighting element is a light emitting source.

8. A method for placing a tube into internal organs of a body wherein an imaging sensor is incorporated in an anterior face of a tube capable of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids into and out of the body and wherein:

energy is supplied to said anterior face of said tube for at least activating said at least one imaging sensor by way of at least one conductor running along said tube;

signals are transmitted from said at least one imaging sensor to a rear of said tube, and

said signals are fed into a receiver of said signals.

9. A method for placing a tube into internal organs of a body as in claim 8 and wherein some of said energy supplied to said anterior face of said tube is used for keeping a sensor clear.

10. A method for placing a tube into internal organs of a body as in claim 8 and wherein said signals are raw.

11. A method for placing a tube into internal organs of a body as in claim 8 and wherein said signals are pre processed.

12. A method for detecting changes in indications of vital functions of a patient, wherein at least one imaging sensor incorporated in the anterior face of a tube used to convey fluids into and out of the body, in said patient, continuously sends signals which are interpreted to indicate changes of said indications.

13. A method for detecting changes in indications of vital functions of a patient, as in claim 12 and wherein an alarm is set when a change of said indications of vital functions of a patient pass a predetermined threshold.

15. A method for detecting changes in indications of vital functions of a patient, as in claim 12 and wherein said signals are images.

14. A tube for performing medical tasks of conveying at least one item selected from the group consisting of gasses and liquids, to and from penetrated organs and wherein said tube is also used for inspection tasks utilizing at least one imaging sensor for examining at least the reaction of said penetrated organs to the penetration.