Endoscope having auto-insufflation and exsufflation

• US 20060047184A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Anh, Boulais, Dennis R., Couvillon, Lucien Alfred Jr., Banik, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,335,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/156
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00094 Suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

An endoscopic imaging system for examining a patient'"'"'s body cavity includes an endoscope having a distal end, a proximal end and a number of lumens therein. One or more distal gas ports are disposed at or adjacent the distal end of the endoscope and one or more proximal gas ports are disposed proximal to the distal gas ports. Insufflation gas is delivered to the distal gas ports and withdrawn from the proximal gas ports or vice versa such that a gas bubble is formed in the body cavity and travels with the distal tip of the endoscope.

Claims

1. An endoscopic imaging system, comprising:

a control cabinet, including;

a processor that executes programmed instructions to operate the endoscopic imaging system;

a user input device for receiving control signals from an operator;

an image processor for producing images of tissue viewed by the endoscope;

a display for displaying the tissue images for a user;

an insufflation gas supply for delivering an insufflation gas to a lumen of the endoscope;

a gas venting system for removing the delivered gas from a patient; and

an endoscope removably secured to the control unit, the endoscope including;

an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end and one or more lumens;

one or more distal gas ports at or adjacent the distal end of the endoscope;

one or more proximal gas ports spaced proximally from the one or more distal gas ports;

wherein the processor controls the insufflation gas supply and the gas venting system such that insufflation gas is delivered to the distal gas ports and withdrawn from the proximal gas ports or vice versa to create a gas bubble that moves with the distal tip of the endoscope as the endoscope is moved in a body lumen.

2. The endoscopic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gas venting system includes a vacuum source to draw insufflation gas from a lumen of the endoscope.

3. The endoscopic imaging system of claim 1, wherein the gas venting system is a valve that is selectively opened to allow insufflation gas to be expelled from a lumen of the endoscope.

4. An endoscope for insertion into a body cavity of a patient, comprising:

an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, and a number of lumens therein;

a light source at the distal end of the endoscope;

an image sensor disposed at or adjacent the distal end of the endoscope;

one or more distal gas ports disposed at or adjacent the distal end of the endoscope; and

one or more proximal gas ports disposed proximal to the distal gas ports such that an insufflation gas can be simultaneously delivered to the distal gas ports and withdrawn from the proximal gas ports to create a gas bubble in the body cavity of the patient that moves with the distal end of the endoscope.

5. A method of performing an endoscopic examination of a patient'"'"'s body cavity, comprising:

inserting an endoscope into the patient'"'"'s body cavity, wherein the endoscope includes an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, one or more distal gas ports disposed at or adjacent the distal end and one or more proximal gas ports disposed proximal to the distal gas ports; and

simultaneously delivering an insufflation gas to the distal gas ports and withdrawing the insufflation gas from the proximal gas ports as the endoscope is advanced into the body cavity.

6. A method of performing an endoscopic examination of a patient'"'"'s body cavity, comprising:

inserting an endoscope into the patient'"'"'s body cavity, wherein the endoscope includes an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end, one or more distal gas ports disposed at or adjacent the distal end and one or more proximal gas ports disposed proximal to the distal gas ports; and

simultaneously delivering an insufflation gas to the proximal gas ports and withdrawing the insufflation gas from the distal gas ports as the endoscope is withdrawn from the body cavity.