ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20070276183A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Envisionier Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Envisionier Medical Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Melder, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,157,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00022 removable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00128 mechanical, e.g. for tubes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof

Abstract

A portable hand-held endoscopy system adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes. The system includes an endoscope having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the endoscope further having a coupler for coupling to a light source; and a battery operated unitary digital camera having an optical input, viewing screen, digital signal processor, memory with embedded software for processing data from the processor and for displaying an image on the viewing screen, and a coupler having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a connector for removably connecting to the eyepiece, and the second end is coupled to the optical input of the digital camera. The video display is rotatable and pivotable about several different axes of rotation and a pivot point spaced distally from the main camera body. An ergonomic camera housing is provided, including a bulbous gripping region and two opposing forefinger accepting regions, facilitating a trigger-like grip and use of the camera by a physician. Redundant controls for moving video and still image capture facilitate ease of use by the physician as the camera and associated endoscope are held in a variety of orientations.

Claims

1. A digital endoscopic camera adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the digital endoscopic camera comprising:

a housing having a main body portion having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, an image acquisition device, a viewing screen operably attached to the main body portion, a coupler located at a distal end of the camera and removably connectable to an eyepiece of an attached endoscope, a processor, and memory with embedded software for processing data from the image acquisition device and for displaying an image on the viewing screen, the viewing screen being rotatable about an arc comprising at least a portion of a circle substantially concentric to the longitudinal axis of the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is further rotatable about a point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera, and wherein the viewing screen remaining distally spaced from the main body portion during such rotation.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is further pivotable towards and away from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera about a point spaced from the main body portion.

4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is further rotatable about a point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera, wherein the viewing screen remaining distally spaced from the main body portion during such rotation, and wherein the viewing screen is further pivotable towards and away from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera about the same point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera.

6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the viewing screen is coupled to a rotating connector, at least a portion of the rotating connector being carried inside of the housing of the digital endoscopic camera.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the rotating connector rotates about the longitudinal axis of the housing.

8. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the viewing screen is coupled to the rotating connector via a post interposed between the viewing screen and the rotating connector, and wherein the viewing screen is both capable of both rotatable and pivotal movement proximate a point of attachment of the viewing screen to the post.

9. A method of performing an endoscopic inspection, comprising the steps of:

providing a digital endoscopic camera adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the digital endoscopic camera comprising a housing having a main body portion having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, an image acquisition device, a viewing screen operably attached to the main body portion, a coupler located at a distal end of the camera and removably connectable to an eyepiece of am attached endoscope, a processor, and memory with embedded software for processing data from the image acquisition device and for displaying an image on the viewing screen;

attaching an eyepiece of an endoscope to the coupler;

positioning a viewing end of the endoscope proximate a region to be displayed on the viewing screen; and

rotating the viewing screen about an arc comprising at least a portion of a circle substantially concentric to the longitudinal axis of the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of rotating the viewing screen about a point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera while maintaining the viewing screen in a distally spaced orientation, relative to the main body portion, during such rotation.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of pivoting the viewing screen about a point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

rotating the viewing screen about a point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera while maintaining the viewing screen in a distally spaced orientation, relative to the main body portion, during such rotation; and

pivoting the viewing screen about the same point spaced from the main body portion of the digital endoscopic camera.

13. A digital endoscopic camera adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the digital endoscopic camera comprising:

a housing, an image acquisition device, a viewing screen operably attached to the housing, a coupler located at a distal end of the camera and removably connectable to an eyepiece of am attached endoscope, a processor, and memory with embedded software for processing data from the image acquisition device and for displaying an image on the viewing screen, the housing having a main body portion, at least one indented forefinger accepting region disposed on the main body portion, and a bulbous gripping region proximate the forefinger accepting region.

14. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the at least one indented forefinger accepting region comprises two intended forefinger accepting region disposed on opposing sides of the main body portion of the housing.

15. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the digital endoscopic camera further includes at least one switch disposed in the bulbous gripping region, the at least one switch when activated initiating at least one of moving video image capture when and still image capture by the digital endoscopic camera.

16. The invention according to claim 13, wherein the digital endoscopic camera further includes a first switch and a second switch disposed on the bulbous gripping region, the first switch when activated initiating moving video image capture and the second switch when activated initiating still image capture by the digital endoscopic camera.

17. A digital endoscopic camera adapted for interchangeable use with a variety of endoscopes having a first end and a second end, the first end having an eyepiece and the second end having a viewing end, the digital endoscopic camera comprising:

a housing, an image acquisition device a viewing screen operably attached to the main body portion, a coupler located at a distal end of the camera and removably connectable to an eyepiece of am attached endoscope, a processor, and memory with embedded software for processing data from the image acquisition device and for displaying an image on the viewing screen; and

at least one pair of redundant switches disposed on the housing, activation of either switch of the at least one pair of redundant switches performing the same function of at least one of initiating moving video image capture and initiating still image capture by the digital endoscopic camera.

18. The invention according to claim 17, wherein the at least one pair of redundant switches comprises a first pair of redundant switches and a second pair of redundant switches, activation of either switch of the first pair of redundant switches performing the same function of initiating moving video image capture, and activation of either switch of the second pair of redundant switches performing the same function of initiating still image capture by the digital endoscopic camera.