Detachable Imaging Device, Endoscope Having A Detachable Imaging Device, And Method of Configuring Such An Endoscope

• US 20070142711A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PSIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Desai, Rupesh, Bayer, Lex, Higgins, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/175
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00174 characterised by the viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• 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 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

An endoscope includes a detachable wireless imaging device and an insertion tube having a distal end region. The attachment of the detachable wireless imaging device detachably attaches the detachable wireless imaging device to the distal end region of the insertion tube.

Claims

1. A detachable imaging device attachable to a distal end region of an insertion tube of an endoscope, the detachable imaging device comprising:

a wireless imaging element; and

an attachment for detachably attaching the wireless imaging element to a distal end region of an insertion tube of an endoscope.

2. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, wherein the attachment includes a ring.

3. The detachable imaging device of claim 2, wherein the ring has an inner diameter that is designed to provide a friction fit between the inner surface of the ring and a cylindrical outer surface of the distal end region of the insertion tube.

4. The detachable imaging device of claim 3, wherein the inner diameter of the ring is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end region of the insertion tube to provide the friction fit.

5. The detachable imaging device of claim 4, wherein the inner surface of the ring includes a rubber or silicon surface.

6. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, further comprising a link that connects the imaging device to the attachment.

7. The detachable imaging device of claim 6, wherein the link is made from a transparent material.

8. The detachable imaging device of claim 6, wherein the link is flexible.

9. The detachable imaging device of claim 8, further comprising a support mechanism that increases the rigidity of the detachable imaging device and reduces the bending of the link.

10. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, wherein the wireless imaging element includes an imaging unit.

11. The detachable imaging device of claim 10, wherein the wireless imaging element includes a light source.

12. The detachable imaging device of claim 10, wherein the wireless imaging element has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the imaging unit is mounted on the proximal end of the wireless imaging element and faces towards a main imaging device mounted on the distal end of the insertion tube.

13. The detachable imaging device of claim 12, wherein the imaging unit and the main imaging device provide different views of the same area.

14. The detachable imaging device of claim 12, wherein the wireless imaging element includes a light source, and wherein the imaging element and the main imaging device and its light source are turned on and off alternately.

15. The detachable imaging device of claim 14, wherein the imaging element and the main imaging device and its light source are turned on and off at a sufficiently high frequency such that eyes do not sense that the imaging element and the main imaging device and its light source are intermittently turned on and off.

16. The detachable imaging device of claim 12, wherein the wireless imaging element includes another imaging unit, wherein the another imaging unit is mounted on the distal end of the wireless imaging element and faces in substantially the same direction as the main imaging device.

17. The detachable imaging device of claim 16, wherein the wireless imaging element includes another light source, wherein the another light source is mounted on the distal end of the wireless imaging element and faces in substantially the same direction as the main imaging device.

18. The detachable imaging device of claim 12, wherein the wireless imaging element includes a channel aligned with a channel of the insertion tube, and wherein the channel of the wireless imaging element extends from the proximal end of the wireless imaging element to the distal end of the wireless imaging element.

19. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, wherein the wireless imaging element includes a housing.

20. The detachable imaging device of claim 19, wherein the housing includes two housing elements that sealingly form the housing.

21. The detachable imaging device of claim 19, further comprising a link that connects the wireless imaging element to the attachment, wherein the link, attachment, and one of the housing elements form a unitary unit.

22. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, further comprising an external control box that is configured to adjust parameters of the wireless imaging element.

23. The detachable imaging device of claim 1, further comprising an external control box that is configured to send images from the wireless imaging element to a patient records database.

24. A detachable imaging device attachable to a distal end region of an insertion tube of an endoscope, the detachable imaging device comprising:

a wireless imaging element; and

an attachment for detachably attaching the wireless imaging element to a distal end region of an insertion tube of an endoscope, wherein the wireless imaging element is at least partially accommodated within the attachment.

25. The detachable imaging device of claim 24, wherein the imaging element is positioned on a proximal end of the attachment.

26. The detachable imaging device of claim 24, comprising two or more wireless imaging elements at least partially accommodated within the attachment, wherein the attachment has a distal end, proximal end and a side, and wherein the wireless imaging elements are mounted on at least one of the distal end, proximal end and side of the attachment.

27. The detachable imaging device of claim 26, wherein the wireless imaging elements are evenly distributed around the attachment.

28. The detachable imaging device of claim 26, wherein the attachment includes a ring.

29. The detachable imaging device of claim 28, wherein the ring has an inner diameter that is designed to provide a friction fit between the inner surface of the ring and a cylindrical outer surface of the distal end region of the insertion tube.

30. The detachable imaging device of claim 29, wherein the inner diameter of the ring is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end region of the insertion tube to provide the friction fit.

31. The detachable imaging device of claim 30, wherein the inner surface of the ring includes a rubber or silicon surface.

32. The detachable imaging device of claim 26, comprising one or more light sources installed within the attachment, and wherein the light sources are mounted on at least one of the distal end, proximal end and side of the attachment.

33. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion tube having a distal end region; and

a detachable imaging device comprising,

an imaging element, and

an attachment that detachably attaches the wireless imaging element to the distal end region of the insertion tube.

34. A method of configuring an endoscope, comprising:

attaching an attachment of a detachable imaging device of an endoscope to a distal end region of the insertion tube of the endoscope.

35. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion tube having a distal end;

a main imaging device mounted on the distal end of the insertion tube; and

a detachable imaging device mounted on the distal end region of the insertion tube, wherein the main and detachable imaging devices provide different views of the same area.

36. The endoscope of claim 35, wherein the main and detachable imaging devices provide different views of the same area at the same time.

37. The endoscope of claim 35, wherein the detachable imaging device is a wireless imaging device.

38. The endoscope of claim 35, wherein the detachable imaging device is mounted to an outer surface of the insertion tube.

39. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion tube having a distal extremity; and

a detachable imaging device mounted on the distal end region of the insertion tube, wherein the detachable imaging device does not extend beyond the distal extremity of the insertion tube.

40. The endoscope of claim 39, wherein the detachable imaging device is a wireless imaging device.

41. The endoscope of claim 39, wherein the detachable imaging device is mounted to an outer surface of the insertion tube.

42. The endoscope of claim 39, wherein the detachable imaging device provides a retrograde view.

48. An endoscope adapted to receive a detachable imaging device on a distal end region of the endoscope as in claim 42, wherein the coupler provides power to the detachable imaging device and couples video images from the detachable imaging device to the base of the endoscope.

43. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion tube having a distal end; and

a detachable imaging device mounted on the distal end region of the insertion tube, wherein the detachable imaging device is mounted to an outer surface of the insertion tube.

44. The endoscope of claim 43, wherein the detachable imaging device is a wireless imaging device.

45. An endoscope adapted to receive a detachable imaging device on a distal end region of the endoscope, the endoscope comprising a coupler on the distal end region for coupling to the detachable imaging device.

46. An endoscope adapted to receive a detachable imaging device on a distal end region of the endoscope as in claim 45, wherein the coupler provides power to the detachable imaging device.

47. An endoscope adapted to receive a detachable imaging device on a distal end region of the endoscope as in claim 45, wherein the coupler couples video images from the detachable imaging device to the base of the endoscope.

49. A detachable imaging device attachable to a distal end region of an endoscope, the detachable imaging device comprising an imaging element;

an attachment for detachably attaching the imaging element to the distal end region of an endoscope.

50. A detachable imaging device as in claim 49 wherein the attachment and the imaging element are configured so as to provide a retrograde view when the detachable imaging device is attached to an endoscope.

51. A detachable imaging device as in claim 50 wherein the attachment and the imaging device are configured to provide a retrograde view of at least a portion of the view simultaneously provided by the endoscope when the detachable imaging device is attached to an endoscope.