Endoscopy device with removable tip

• US 20060217594A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Perceptronix Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perceptronix Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Ferguson, Gary W.
• Application Number:
  US11/088,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope

Abstract

The present invention provides an endoscope for in vivo imaging the cells, tissue, organs or body cavities of humans or other animals to observe and locate, diagnosis and/or treat disease. Illumination sources, image detectors, sensors may be provided alone or in combination on the removable tip allowing functional alterations or optimization for a particular procedure. Endoscope features such as an instrument channel supporting tissue sampling, suction, treatment, micro-surgery, optical computed tomography, confocal microscopy, laser or drug treatments, injections, gene-therapy, marking, implanting or other medical techniques are maintained.

Claims

1. An endoscope assembly comprising an endoscope and a removable tip, said tip comprising at least one of a radio transmitter, a power source, and an illumination light source.

3. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one of an image detector, an instrument channel, and an analytical device.

4. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one image detector.

6. The endoscope assembly of claim 4 wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one of an instrument channel and an analytical device.

7. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one instrument channel.

8. The endoscope assembly of claim 7, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one analytical device.

9. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip is disposable.

10. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip is sterilizable.

11. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip is repairable.

12. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one of a lens, a filter, and an optical coating.

22. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

23. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a broadband light-emitting diode and a narrow-band light-emitting diode.

24. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises at least one of a disposable battery and a rechargeable battery.

25. The endoscope assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connector.

26. The endoscope assembly of claim 25, wherein said connector comprises at least one of a press fit and an interference fit.

27. The endoscope assembly of claim 25, wherein said connector comprises a fluid-tight sealing gasket.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. An endoscope comprising:

a tube having a proximal end and a distal end for inserting said distal end into a body cavity or surgical incision of a patient and comprising a first conduit for transmitting power and a second conduit for transmitting signals;

a removable tip comprising an illumination source and an image detector;

a connector to removably attach said tip to said tube, to connect said first conduit to said illumination source and said image detector, and to connect said second conduit to said image detector.

15. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip further comprises at least one of a lens, a filter, and an optical coating.

16. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein sad removable tip further comprises at least one of an instrument channel and an analytical device.

17. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip is disposable.

18. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip is sterilizable.

19. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip is repairable.

20. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip further comprises an internal power source.

21. The endoscope of claim 14, wherein said removable tip further comprises a radio transmitter.

28. The endoscope assembly of claim 14, wherein said illumination source comprises a light-emitting diode.

29. The endoscope assembly of claim 14, wherein said illumination source comprises a broadband light-emitting diode and a narrow-band light-emitting diode.

30. The endoscope assembly of claim 14, wherein said power source comprises at least one of a disposable battery and a rechargeable battery.

31. The endoscope assembly of claim 14, wherein said connector comprises at least one of a press fit and an interference fit.

32. The endoscope assembly of claim 14, wherein said connector comprises a fluid-tight sealing gasket.

33. A removable tip for an endoscope, comprising:

a light source producing interrogating radiation for illumination of a target;

a detector circuit for receiving radiation produced by the target in response to the interrogating radiation;

a radio transmitter for relaying signals from said detector to at least one of a monitor, a camera, and a spectrograph;

a power source coupled to said light source, said detector, and said radio transmitter; and

means for removably attaching said light source, said detector, said radio transmitter, and said power source to an endoscope.

34. The removable tip of claim 33, further comprising at least one of a lens, a filter, and an optical coating.

35. The removable tip of claim 33, further comprising at least one of an instrument channel and an analytical device.

36. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said removable tip is disposable.

37. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said removable tip is sterilizable.

38. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said removable tip is repairable.

39. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

40. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said light source comprises a broadband light-emitting diode and a narrow-band light-emitting diode.

41. The removable tip of claim 40, wherein said narrow-band light-emitting diode comprises a near-infrared light-emitting diode.

42. The removable tip of claim 40, wherein said broadband light-emitting diode comprises a red light-emitting diode, a green light-emitting diode, and a blue light-emitting diode.

43. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said detector circuit detects at least one of spectral radiation and imaging radiation.

44. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said detector circuit comprises a spectral radiation detector and an imaging radiation detector.

45. The removable tip of claim 33, wherein said power source is at least one of a disposable battery and a rechargeable battery.

46. The removable tip of claim 33, further comprising an analytical device comprising at least one of a DNA-chip, a micro-machine, and a chemical analyzer.

47. The removable tip of claim 33, further comprising a connector.

48. The removable tip of claim 47, wherein said connector comprises at least one of a press fit and an interference fit.

49. The removable tip of claim 47, wherein said connector comprises a fluid-tight sealing gasket.