PORTABLE IMAGING SYSTEM EMPLOYING A MINIATURE ENDOSCOPE

• US 20090253967A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VisionScope Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: VisionScope Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McDonald, James E., Gill, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,484,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0087 with index gradient

Abstract

A cart or man-portable system and method for performing endoscopic procedures is provided. A portable display device, such as a laptop computer, is coupled to a handle comprising a miniature camera and fiber optic illumination subsystem. A sterile disposable portion is fitted over the illumination subsystem and inserted into a target area on a patient. Images of the target area are conveyed from the camera to the display device while an endoscopic procedure is performed, thus facilitating real-time diagnosis during the procedure.

Claims

1. A disposable fiber optic sheath for illuminating a region within a mammalian body comprising:

a tubular sheath having an outer tube with a diameter of less than 3 mm and a concentric array of optical fibers within a sheath channel, the optical fibers having a packing factor within the channel of at least 80%;

an optically transparent element sealed at the distal end of the sheath; and

a connector assembly at a proximal end of the sheath.

2. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the connector assembly further comprises an optical coupler connected to a proximal end of the optical fibers and a cannula connector.

3. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 further comprising an inner tube and an outer tube having a diameter of less then 2 mm.

4. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the transparent element comprises a window having a thickness of less than 1 mm.

6. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 further comprising sterile barrier attached to a flexible membrane that is attached to a sheath housing element.

7. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the tubular sheath further comprises an outer metal tube and an inner metal tube, the optical fibers extending between the outer tube and the inner tube to define a concentric illumination area and the optically transparent element defining a light collection area such that a ratio of the illumination area to the collection area is in a range of 0.5 to 1.0.

8. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the tubular sheath comprises a rigid tube having a cylindrical cavity with a circular opening at the proximal end and has a length between 5 cm and 10 cm.

9. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the optical fibers comprises an array of at least 500 optical fibers and are positioned between an outer tube and an inner tube.

10. The fiber optic sheath of claim 9 wherein the optical fibers have a packing factor of at least 90% and are attached with an adhesive at a distal end and have a polished distal surface.

11. The fiber optic sheath of claim 3 wherein the inner tube has a diameter in a range of 0.6 to 1.8 mm and the optical fiber array has between 500 and 2000 optical fibers.

14. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 wherein the sheath is between 50 mm and 2500 mm in length.

15. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 further comprising a fluid delivery channel for delivering medication or imaging dye to a region of interest in a body lumen or cavity.

17. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 further comprising a hub assembly mounted at the proximal end of the tubular sheath, the hub assembly including the connector assembly and an optical coupler that is optically coupled to a proximal end of the array of optical fibers and wherein an optical coupler extends proximally from the hub assembly and comprises a light emitting diode (LED) coupler.

20. The fiber optic sheath of claim 1 further comprising a first fluid seal, an o-ring groove and a second fluid seal on the optical coupler.

5. (canceled)

12-13. -13. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

21-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of using a disposable sheath assembly comprising:

providing a disposable tubular sheath having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm, the sheath housing a fiber optic illumination device; and

removing the sheath and a cannula from a container having an identification element.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the method further comprises inserting the cannula into the patient with a trocar, removing the trocar, and using a sensor that detects the identification element and using a computer to identify and record the sheath assembly.

29-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A kit for disposable fiber optic sheath for illuminating a region within a mammalian body comprising:

a disposable sheath for an endoscope, the sheath having a proximal connector and a diameter of less than 3 mm;

a cannula that receives the sheath; and

a container having an identification element.

35. The kit of claim 34 further comprising a flexible membrane sterile barrier attached to the sheath, a trocar and a sealed container that contains the sheath and cannula, the container having a machine readable identification element.

36-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A method of making a disposable sheath assembly:

providing an outer tube having an outer diameter of less than 3 mm and an inner tube positioned within the outer tube;

inserting a plurality of optical fibers into a tubular cavity between the outer tube and the inner tube;

applying an adhesive to a portion of the optical fibers such that the portion of the optical fibers held by the adhesive is at a distal end of the tubular sheath;

removing portions of fibers extending distally from the sheath;

polishing the distal ends of the optical fibers to form a distal illumination optical surface; and

sealing the distal end of the sheath with an optically transmissive element.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising molding a connector assembly including a sheath housing element and a coupling element, attaching a connector assembly to a proximal end of the sheath, the connector assembly including a seal and the optical fibers have a packing factor of at least 80% in the tubular cavity.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the distal illumination optical surface has a light illumination area and the optically transmissive element has a light collection area, a ratio of the illumination area to the light collection area being in a range of 0.5 to 2.5.

41-42. -42. (canceled)

44-46. -46. (canceled)

48. A disposable sheath assembly comprising:

a tubular sheath having a diameter of less than 3 mm, the sheath being sealed at a distal end with an optically transparent element; and

a cannula having a concentric array of optical fibers and a tubular cavity that receives the sheath.

49. The assembly of claim 48 further comprising a connector at a proximal end of the cannula and an optical coupler at the proximal end of the optical fibers and wherein the tubular sheath has a hub that forms a seal with the cannula, the cannula having a port for fluid delivery and the hub including the connector adapted to connect to a handle with an imaging fiber bundle and an imaging detector.

50-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A disposable sheath comprising:

a tubular sheath having a diameter of less than 3 mm and a proximal connector; and

a window assembly that forms a seal with a distal end of the tubular sheath, the window assembly having an outer optically transparent element that is concentric about an inner optically transparent element.

54. The disposable sheath of claim 53 further comprising a light barrier between the outer transparent element and the inner transparent element, the outer transparent element having an illumination area and the inner transparent element having a light collection area and wherein a ratio of the illumination area to the light collection area is in a range of 0.5 to 2.5.

55-60. -60. (canceled)