DISPOSABLE ENDOSCOPIC ACCESS DEVICE AND PORTABLE DISPLAY

• US 20110028790A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivid Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vivid Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Farr, Mina, Farr, Ali, Togami, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,827,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• 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 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00442 connectable to wrist or forearm
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 : using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 : Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/53 : connected to the surgeon's body, e.g. by a belt

Abstract

Various embodiments for providing removable, pluggable and disposable opto-electronic modules for illumination and imaging for endoscopy or borescopy are provided for use with portable display devices. Generally, various rigid, flexible or expandable single use medical or industrial devices with an access channel, can include one or more solid state or other compact electro-optic illuminating elements located thereon. Additionally, such opto-electronic modules may include illuminating optics, imaging optics, and/or image capture devices, and airtight means for suction and delivery within the device. The illuminating elements may have different wavelengths and can be time-synchronized with an image sensor to illuminate an object for 2D and 3D imaging, or for certain diagnostic purposes.

Claims

1. A device for insertion into a body cavity, the device comprising:

a disposable device body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be at least partially inserted into the body cavity;

an opto-electronic illumination and imaging module located on the device body;

wherein electrical lines from the proximal end of the device body to the distal end of the device are embedded in the disposable device body;

an external power source, control electronics, and display device electrically coupled to the opto-electronic module via a flexible Universal Serial Buss (USB) cable configured to electrically connect the power source, control electronics, and display device to the electrical lines.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the opto-electronic module contains one or more of:

a light emitting device (LED), a laser diode (LD), an ultraviolet (UV) light source, an infrared (IR) light source, a CCD sensor, or a CMOS sensor.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the heat from the illumination source is coupled to the window of the vision module for defogging purposes.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the opto-electronic module is attached to one or more small flexible, rigid, or partially rigid, electronic boards within the disposable device body.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the electronic board distributes power to the solid state light sources and image sensors at or near the distal end, as well as serializing parallel digital imaging data or using MIPI output from the sensors and delivering the serial data through the flexible electrical lines that run to the proximal end of the device, through the device body.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the flexible electrical lines continue to extend outside the device body as a USB cable, connecting directly to the display and control unit.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the communication interface of the electronic boards within the device, through the flexible electronic lines, to the separate controller unit, is that of the Universal Serial Buss (USB) format and connection.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the controller unit acts as a USB host, driving the remote opto-electronic vision modules as USB camera devices.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller unit is set to receive USB Video Class (UVC) video signals from the electronic board of claim 4.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device body is one or more of:

rigid, partially rigid, flexible, partially flexible, filled inside, or hollow inside, with a tool access hole or channel inside the device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein other air tight tubing and channels run the length of the device access channel, for delivery suction, air, liquid, or gel material to the distal end of the device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device body is an anatomically shaped laryngoscope with metal blade and an access channel, with features such as lips in the metal blade or plastic body, bumps or cutouts in the channel to ease guiding of the ET tube through the access channel inside the body.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein access channel opening turns on multiple sides of the device body to maintain the position of ET tube or other instruments within the channel during operation, but provides cut-outs on multiple sides of the device for insertion and release of ET tube and other instruments.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the spray nozzles at the distal tip spray lubricants on the ET tube or other instruments as they pass or leave the access channel, and/or deliver drugs such as anesthetics to numb the area, or certain chemicals to activate tissue under observation.

15. A device for insertion into a body cavity, the device comprising:

a disposable flexible or partially flexible and hollow tubular portion or body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be at least partially inserted into the body cavity;

an opto-electronic illumination and imaging module located at the distal end of the flexible and hollow tubular portion or the body; and

a power source, control electronics, and image data electrically coupled to the opto-electronic module through flexible electrical lines from proximal end of the flexible and hollow tubular body to the distal end;

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device body comprises a flexible tubular portion such as a flexible and expandable accordion structure, and wherein any one of a rigid, flexible, articulating or robotic medical body, can be inserted through the flexible tubular hollow portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the accordion body can be expanded and elongated, deployed, or formed into a shape retaining form before or during use, and where certain elements can be pushed out of the device in collapsed form.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the body of the device further comprising a separate imaging window interposed between the distal end of the device body and the OE vision module, wherein heat from the illumination source or from a heat-generating resistor included in the device is coupled to the imaging window to substantially prevent formation of condensation on the imaging window.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the opto-electronic module is, deployed and articulated by the medical device within the access channel, configured such that in an insertion position, the opto-electronic module is substantially contained within a profile of the device body, and in a articulated position, at least a portion of the opto-electronic module is disposed external to the profile of the original device body form, as the direction of view is adjusted according to use.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the electrical connector to the display and control unit is a USB cable is on an extended portion of the device electrical lines with flexible cable that can be disposed along with the disposable device.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein dual vision modules are used at the distal tip, directed at the same FOV, providing stereoscopic view of the site and run by the control unit as USB devices,

22. The device of claim 15, wherein means for suction, irrigation, drug and diagnostic visualization agents are delivered to the site under observation, with built in air tight channels and tubes within the body of the device, and controlled by valves and other mechanical means at the proximal end or alternatively controlled electronically by the control unit.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein output ports for suction, and air, liquid and gel delivery are located around the vision and illumination ports, or tool access channel at the distal tip, and optionally equipped with filters, spray nozzles, and special delivery mechanism.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein tubular extension for suction, air and liquid and gel delivery are provided at the proximal end of the device, and the tube extensions employ connection means to be attached to outside air, suction, liquid supply, disposable syringes, or pumps.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein certain air, or liquid valves are utilized at the proximal end to control, initiate, and continue process of suction, delivery, or spraying of material at the distal end.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein small reservoir and containers are connected to channel and tubing supply in the device, internal to the proximal handle or external to the proximal handle.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the reservoir and containers are made void of air to be used for suction, or filled with medication or active agents to be delivered through the device.

28. A device for display of medical vision images and video, the device comprising:

a portable display screen and housing;

a mounting mechanism disposed on the back of the housing, the mounting mechanism configured to removably engage a complementary mounting mechanism on a structure for removably mounting the portable display screen and housing to the structure; and

means for communicatively coupling the portable display screen to one or more opto-electronic vision and illumination modules for control and processing of information.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the device is coupled to a power supply, the power supply comprising an external power supply or a battery power supply included in the device, and wherein the device provides a portion of the power supply to one or more opto-electronic vision and illumination modules.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein a separate sterile disposable cover protects the device during use, yet preserving all the connection and functionalities of the device through the protective cover.

31. The device of claim 28, further comprising:

illumination and imaging control electronics providing imaging control of one or more opto-electronic vision and illumination modules; and

image processing electronics providing image processing of image data received from one or more opto-electronic vision modules.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the illumination and imaging controls of the remote opto-electronic vision and illumination module(s) are performed via the device being in a USB Host mode, with one or more appropriate USB connectors and set to drive and receive one or more USB Video Class (UVC) signals from one or more remote vision systems.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein the display device and controller are also used to electronically initiate and control various suction and liquid and gas delivery to the area under observation by the OE vision module.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein the device performs autofocus function simultaneously or independently for one or more remote opto-electronic vision module.

35. The device of claim 28, wherein the mounting mechanism allows the device to be removably mounted, or clipped on to a body or an IV post with rotational and pivotal adjustment capabilities.

36. The device of claim 28, wherein a wearable and removable quick attachment device is configured to adjustably Velcro attach the device or it'"'"'s disposable cover to an arm or wrist of a user with wearable Velcro band or support.

37. The device of claim 28, wherein stereoscopic viewing capability of images displayed on the display screen is provided by a pair of time-synchronized shutter glasses, synchronized with the device'"'"'s alternating left and right image timing, through electrical wire, IR clock synchronization, or Bluetooth signal, or appropriate polarized 3D glasses.

38. The device of claim 28, wherein a plurality of illumination devices with various wavelength or spectrum, are switched on and off, or controlled in the drive pulse width, in a time synchronized manner with one or more vision modules, also controlled by the display and control unit of claim 28, where by appropriately setting of the illumination sources, synchronized with the vision module(s) frame rate using control software in control unit of claim 28, enables concurrent or time lapsed capturing of video images in various spectral wavelengths and vision at specific color gamut.

39. The device of claim 28, wherein a plurality of 2D or 3D input imaging devices are connected to the device for remote 2D or 3D viewing, or transferred by the device wirelessly or by wired connection to other 2D and 3D image viewers.

40. The device of claim 28, further comprising one or more of:

input means, output means, cellular communication capabilities, computing means, wireless connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, UWB, IR), GPS capabilities, personal digital assistant capabilities, note-taking capabilities, audio narration, dictation capabilities, or video conferencing capabilities.