Endoscopic system with integrated patient respiratory status indicator

• US 20070167683A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Couvillon, Lucien
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00055 for alerting the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production

Abstract

The system 10 includes an endoscopic probe 20 and an expired air sampling device 24 functionally connected to a control console 28. In use, the endoscopic probe 20 is routed through a body lumen of a patient to, for example, visualize a selected region of a patient'"'"'s body. As the endoscopic probe 20 is routed through the body lumens, the expired air sampling device 24 collects expired air from the patient, generates signals indicative of patient respiratory status, and outputs the generated signals to the control console 28. The control console 28 processes the signals and monitors the respiratory status of the patient. If the respiratory status of the patient changes based on the processed signals of the expired air sampling device 24, the control console 28 may output an audible or visual alert signal.

Claims

1. An endoscopic system, comprising:

an endoscopic probe routable through passageways of a surgical subject, the endoscopic probe having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of C0₂ gas concentration during endoscopic use.

2. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the capnographic sensor measures C0₂ concentration by a technique selected from the group selected from IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and acoustical energy.

3. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the capnographic sensor is positioned adjacent the distal tip of the endoscopic probe.

4. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the capnographic sensor is positioned between the proximal and distal end of the endoscopic probe.

5. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the capnographic sensor is associated with a mouthpiece to be placed within the mouth or airway of the surgical subject.

6. The endoscopic system of claim 1, further comprising a control console, the control console receiving signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and displaying results of the processed signals.

7. The endoscopic system of claim 6, wherein the control console includes an alert device for generating a signal indicative of patient distress based on the received signals from the capnographic sensor.

8. The endoscopic system of claim 7, wherein the alert signal is either visual or audible.

9. The endoscopic system of claim 1, further comprising a respiration sensor.

10. The endoscopic system of claim 10, wherein the respiration sensor generates signals indicative of surgical subject breath cycles.

11. An endoscopic system, comprising:

an endoscopic probe routable through passageways of a surgical subject, the endoscopic probe having a proximal end and a distal end;

a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of surgical subject respiratory gas concentrations during endoscope probe use; and

a control console functionally connected to the endoscope and the capnographic sensor, the control console receiving at least the subject response signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and outputting the processed signals for display.

12. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the capnographic sensor is coupled to the endoscopic probe.

13. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the capnographic sensor is located at the distal end of the endoscopic probe.

14. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the capnographic sensor is located along a portion of the endoscopic probe.

15. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the capnographic sensor is associated with a mouthpiece positionable within the mouth or airway of the surgical subject.

16. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the control console includes an alert device for generating a signal indicative of patient distress based on the received signals from the capnographic sensor.

17. The endoscopic system of claim 16, wherein patient distress is determined by comparing the processed signals from the capnographic signals with a value stored in or generated by the control console.

18. The endoscopic system of claim 11, wherein the control console receives signals from the capnographic and other signals associated with the surgical subject.

19. The endoscopic system of claim 18, wherein the other received signals are respiration signals indicative of surgical subject breath cycles.

20. An endoscopic system, comprising:

means for probing passageways of a surgical subject;

a capnographic sensor capable of generating signals indicative of surgical subject respiratory gas concentrations during endoscope probe use; and

means for receiving at least the subject response signals from the capnographic sensor, processing the received signals, and outputting the processed signals for display.