Adapter for use with digital imaging medical device

• US 20060114986A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Braunstein, Daniel, Knapp, Keith N. II
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• 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 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An adapter that allows digital imaging devices to be used with existing analog consoles. In one embodiment of the invention, an adaptor is provided that receives a digital video image signal from a medical device and converts the digital signal into an analog signal that can be displayed by an analog console. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for converting a digital video signal received from a medical imaging device into a standardized analog video format.

Claims

1. A medical imaging system comprising:

a medical imaging device that includes an image sensor that produces digital image signals in a digital video format;

an analog video processor; and

an adapter that receives the digital image signals from the image sensor in the medical imaging device and converts the digital image signals into analog video signals in a format that is utilized by the analog video processor.

2. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises at least one connector adapted to connect the medical device to at least one peripheral support device.

3. The medical imaging system of claim 2, wherein the connector is adapted to supply digital image signals to a digital video processor.

4. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the medical imaging device further comprises at least one light emitting diode.

5. The medical imaging system of claim 4, wherein the adapter further comprises means for delivering power from the analog video processor to the medical imaging device.

6. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the digital image signals are produced in serial format, and wherein the adapter includes a deserializer.

7. The medical imaging system of claim 1, wherein the medical imaging device is a single-use endoscope.

8. An adapter for use in a medical imaging system, the adapter comprising:

a first connector adapted to receive an input digital video image signal from an image sensor in a medical imaging device; and

means for converting the input digital video image signal to an output analog video image signal for display on a video monitor.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the adapter is internal to an analog video console.

10. The adapter of claim 8, further comprising a second connector adapted to transmit an output analog video image signal to an analog video console, wherein the adaptor is external to an analog video console.

11. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the means for converting the input digital video signal to the output analog video image signal includes a deserializer.

12. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the adapter further includes a master clock in communication with a remote receiver in the medical imaging device.

13. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the adapter further includes means for receiving and monitoring a signal from a temperature sensor in the medical imaging device.

14. An interface on a housing for coupling to a medical imaging device that includes a digital image sensor, the interface comprising:

a mechanism configured to transmit a clocking signal from a remote clock source to a clock receiver in the medical imaging device;

a mechanism configured to transmit control signals from a remote imager controller to the digital image sensor in the medical imaging device;

a mechanism configured to receive digital image signals from the image sensor in the medical imaging device;

a mechanism configured to receive temperature sensor signals from a temperature sensor in the medical imaging device; and

a mechanism to supply power to the medical imaging device.

15. A method of converting serial digital video signals to a standardized analog video format, the method comprising:

receiving an input serial digital video signal from a device having a remote image sensor;

deserializing the input digital video signal;

decoding the deserialized input digital video signal;

generating synthetic horizontal and vertical synchronization signals;

interlacing the digital signal into standard line memories; and

converting the digital signal into a standardized analog video format.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the device having a remote image sensor is a single-use endoscope.

17. A medical imaging system comprising:

a single-use digital video endoscope;

a reusable console that includes an analog video processor; and

an adapter that receives digital image signals from the single-use endoscope and converts the digital image signals into analog video signals in a format that is utilized by the analog video processor.

18. The medical imaging system of claim 17, wherein the adapter further comprises means for delivering power from the reusable console to the single-use digital video endoscope.

19. The medical imaging system of claim 17, wherein the digital image signals are produced in serial format, and wherein the adapter includes a deserializer.