EFFICIENT AUTOMATED UROTHELIAL IMAGING USING AN ENDOSCOPE WITH TIP BENDING
First Claim
1. A method for optically fully scanning a surface of a volume that is accessed through an opening, where a cross-sectional dimension of the volume is substantially greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the opening, comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting an elongate imaging probe through the opening and into the volume;
(b) applying a mechanical force, causing the elongate imaging probe to bend through a desired arc; and
(c) producing a plurality of overlapping images of the surface by positioning a distal end of the elongate imaging probe at a plurality of selected positions that are spaced apart from the surface of the volume, the step of positioning including one or more of the steps of;
(i) controlling an insertion depth of the elongate imaging probe into the volume;
(ii) rotating the elongate imaging probe about its longitudinal axis; and
(iii) modifying the mechanical force applied to selectively vary the desired arc through which the elongate scanning device is bent.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scanning fiber endoscope (SFE) disposed at the distal end of a flexible, small diameter imaging probe is inserted through a relatively small opening and into a larger volume, such as the bladder. Actuators disposed adjacent to the distal end of the imaging probe are selectively activated to bend the distal end of the imaging probe to assist in positioning and orienting the SFE at a plurality of points selected to image substantially all of at least a desired portion of the interior surface of the volume. The insertion depth, bending arc, and rotational position of the imaging probe can be manually and/or automatically controlled. The user can inspect the images to determine if a desired portion of the surface has been imaged and can thus ensure that a tumor or other characteristic of the surface is not overlooked due to a failure to image it.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for optically fully scanning a surface of a volume that is accessed through an opening, where a cross-sectional dimension of the volume is substantially greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the opening, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an elongate imaging probe through the opening and into the volume; (b) applying a mechanical force, causing the elongate imaging probe to bend through a desired arc; and (c) producing a plurality of overlapping images of the surface by positioning a distal end of the elongate imaging probe at a plurality of selected positions that are spaced apart from the surface of the volume, the step of positioning including one or more of the steps of; (i) controlling an insertion depth of the elongate imaging probe into the volume; (ii) rotating the elongate imaging probe about its longitudinal axis; and (iii) modifying the mechanical force applied to selectively vary the desired arc through which the elongate scanning device is bent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for scanning a surface of a volume that is accessed through an opening, where a cross-sectional dimension of the volume is substantially greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the opening, the system comprising:
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(a) an elongate imaging probe that is used for creating images of a surface that is being scanned, the cross-sectional dimension of the elongate imaging probe being sufficiently small to enable the elongate imaging probe to readily fit through the opening when inserted into the volume, and the elongate imaging probe being flexible at least adjacent to a distal end of the elongate imaging probe; (b) at least one actuator disposed on the elongate imaging probe, for use in producing a mechanical force that bends the elongate imaging probe; and (c) a plurality of electrical conductors coupled to the at least one actuator, the plurality of electrical conductors conveying an electrical signal used to selectively activate the at least one actuator, to bend the elongate imaging probe through a desired arc, the elongate imaging probe being thus bent in the desired arc and positionable within the volume while producing images of the surface at each of a plurality of positions that are selected to ensure that substantially all of at least a desired portion of the surface of the volume is scanned. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A bendable imaging system, comprising:
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(a) a flexible conduit within which is disposed an elongate imaging probe for use in producing images of a surface that is disposed adjacent to a distal end of the flexible conduit; and (b) a plurality of actuators that are coupled to the elongate imaging probe, adjacent to a distal end of the flexible conduit, each of the plurality of actuators being selectively actuatable, causing the actuator to apply a force that bends the elongate imaging probe and the flexible conduit, one or more actuators being selectively activated so as to achieve bending of the elongate imaging probe and the flexible conduit through a desired arc, to control an orientation and position of the distal end of the elongate imaging probe relative to the surface that is being imaged. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for scanning substantially all of a surface within an internal volume that is accessed through an opening relatively smaller in a cross-sectional dimension than a cross-sectional dimension of the volume, to produce images of the surface in which a condition of the surface is visually evident, and so as to ensure that at least a desired portion of the surface has been imaged, comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an imaging probe into the volume through the opening; (b) successively remotely positioning the imaging probe at each of a plurality of positions selected to enable imaging of different parts of the surface; (c) remotely bending a distal end of the imaging probe to assist in the step of remotely positioning by applying a mechanical force to the imaging probe proximate to the distal end, thereby bending the imaging probe to change a position and an orientation of the imaging probe relative to a portion of the surface that is currently being imaged; (d) at each of the positions, using the imaging probe for imaging the surface to produce a plurality of images of the surface; and (e) providing an indication to a user of the imaging device that indicates whether images have been produced for substantially all of at least the desired portion of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification