ENDOSCOPIC ILLUMINATION SYSTEM, ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR STAGED ILLUMINATION OF DIFFERENT TARGET AREAS

• US 20110060184A1
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Adler, Doron, Finkman, Shai, Rothberg, Elliott, Schnoerr, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/01 Guiding arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/307 for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes, cystoscopes

Abstract

The inventive subject matter is generally directed to an illumination system for staged illumination in an endoscopic procedure. The inventive system generally includes an illumination apparatus supporting a light source that is configured for removable assembly with an endoscope. The assembly is configured for insertion into a natural or artificial passageway in a body. The illumination apparatus has one or more light sources providing a first, relatively high level of illumination suitable for imaging a first, relatively large target area, either alone or in combination with a light source for the endoscope, and after removal of the illumination apparatus from the assembly, the endoscope provides a second relatively lower level of illumination suitable for imaging a relatively small target area.

Claims

1. An illumination system for staged illumination in an endoscopic procedure, the system comprising:

an illumination apparatus that is configured for removable assembly with an endoscope, the assembly being configured for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body, the illumination apparatus and endoscope forming an illumination system for illuminating a target area in the patient'"'"'s body with sufficient illumination levels for an imaging system at the insertion end of the endoscope to receive the reflected light and use it for required imaging; and

wherein the illumination apparatus has a light source providing a first, relatively high level of illumination suitable for imaging a first, relatively large target area, either alone or in combination with a light source for the endoscope, and after removal of the illumination apparatus from the assembly, the light source for the endoscope provides only a second relatively lower level of illumination suitable for imaging a relatively small target area.

3. The illumination of system of claim 1 wherein the assembly has a first outer diameter or peripheral dimensionality for use in a larger bodily passage and after removal of the illumination apparatus, the endoscope has a second outer diameter or outer dimensionality for use in a relatively smaller bodily passageway.

5. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a tubular structure into which the endoscope is slideably disposable.

6. The illumination system of claim 5 wherein the tubular structure comprises a semi-rigid structure that is pushable but with sufficient flexibility to navigate bending passageways.

7. The illumination system of claim 6 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a bladder access sheath configured for passage through a urethra and into the bladder and the endoscope comprises a ureteroscope configured for passage through the ureter to a kidney.

8. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a filament, filamentous, rod or rod-like structure that is slideably disposable within the outer diameter or outer dimensionality of the endoscope.

9. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein the illumination apparatus is configured for use within a predetermined existing channel of the endoscope.

10. The illumination system of claim 8 wherein the endoscope further comprises a working channel and the illumination apparatus is configured for use within the working channel and is configured so there is functional room for both the illumination apparatus and a guidewire at the same time.

11. The illumination system of claim 10 wherein the endoscope comprises a flexible ureteroscope and the illumination apparatus is at least about as flexible as the endoscope so as to not impede the use of the endoscope.

19. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an elongated element.

20. The illumination system of claim 19 wherein the elongated element has no other primary functionality in an endoscopic procedure other than supporting the light source.

21. The illumination system of claim 19 wherein the elongated element has one or more other functionalities in an endoscopic procedure in addition to the functionality of supporting a light source.

22. The illumination system of claim 21 wherein the other functionalities are serving as a bladder access sheath, a ureteral access sheath, a guide wire, a catheter, or a stent.

23. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein one of the illumination apparatus and the endoscope supports a light emitting device and the other is optically couplable to the light emitting device and has a light carrier that carries light from the light emitting device to the light source at the insertion end for illuminating a target area.

24. The illumination system of claim 23 wherein the endoscope supports the light emitting device and the illumination apparatus supports the light carriers.

25. The illumination system of claim 24 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an access sheath for an endoscope.

33. The illumination system of claim 1 further comprising the endoscope.

34. The illumination system of claim 1 wherein the illumination apparatus further comprises a handle end and an opening near the handle end to fit the endoscope and hold the handle end of the illumination apparatus fixedly relative to the endoscope.

35. The illumination system of claim 34 wherein the endoscope further comprises a Luer-type fitting and the opening to fit the endoscope fits by surrounding the Luer-type fitting.

36. The illumination system of claim 34 wherein the opening comprises a breakable body that breaches the opening when the breakable body is broken.

45. The illumination apparatus of claim 1 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a body with a light carrier integrally molded therein optically coupled with a light emissions devices to deliver light to the light source.

2. An assembly for use in an endoscopic procedure comprising:

an illumination apparatus and an endoscope, the illumination apparatus and endoscope being removably assembled and arranged into an illumination system for inserting into and illuminating a target area in a patient'"'"'s body with sufficient illumination levels for an imaging system at the insertion end of the endoscope to receive the reflected light and use it for required imaging;

wherein the assembly has an illumination apparatus having a light source providing a first, relatively high level of illumination suitable for imaging a first, relatively large target area, either alone or in combination with the illumination system onboard the endoscope, and after removal of the illumination apparatus from the assembly, the endoscope provides only a second relatively lower level of illumination suitable for imaging a relatively small target area; and

the illumination apparatus and endoscope being arranged so as to allow the light source to illuminate a target site and for an imaging system at the handle end of the endoscope to receive the reflected light.

4. The illumination system of claim 2 wherein the assembly has a first outer diameter or peripheral dimensionality for use in a larger bodily passage and after removal of the illumination apparatus, the endoscope has a second outer diameter or outer dimensionality for use in a relatively smaller bodily passageway.

12. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a tubular structure into which the endoscope is slideably disposed.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the tubular structure comprises a semi-rigid structure that is pushable but with sufficient flexibility to navigate bending passageways.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a bladder access sheath configured for passage through a urethra and into the bladder and the endoscope comprises a ureteroscope configured for passage through the ureter to a kidney.

15. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the illumination system comprises a filament, filamentous, rod, or rod-like structure that is slideably disposed within the outer diameter or outer dimensionality of the endoscope.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the endoscope further comprises a predetermined existing channel and the illumination apparatus is configured for use within the predetermined existing channel of the endoscope.

17. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the endoscope further comprises a working channel and the illumination apparatus is configured for use within the working channel and is configured so there is functional room for both the illumination apparatus and a guidewire at the same time.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the endoscope comprises a flexible ureteroscope and the illumination apparatus is at least about as flexible as the endoscope so as to not impede the use of the endoscope.

26. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an elongated element.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the elongated element has no other primary functionality in an endoscopic procedure other than supporting the light carrier.

28. The illumination system of claim 26 wherein the elongated element has one or more other functionalities in an endoscopic procedure in addition to the functionality of supporting the light carrier.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the other functionalities are serving as a bladder access sheath, a ureteral access sheath, a guide wire, a catheter, or a stent.

30. The assembly of claim 2 wherein one of the illumination apparatus and the endoscope supports a light emitting device and the other is optically couplable to the light emitting device and has a light carrier that carries light from the light emitting device to the light source at the insertion end for illuminating a target area.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the endoscope supports the light emitting device and the illumination apparatus supports the light carriers.

32. The assembly of claim 31 wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an access sheath for an endoscope.

37. The assembly of claim 2

wherein the endoscope further comprises one or more light emitting devices;

wherein the illumination apparatus further comprises one or more light carriers having an insertion end and a handle end;

wherein the handle end is optically coupled to the light emitting devices; and

wherein the insertion end of the illumination apparatus is the light source.

38. A method of staged illumination in an endoscopic procedure comprising:

introducing an endoscope comprising an endoscope light source and an illumination apparatus comprising an illumination apparatus light source into a body through a passageway;

illuminating a first target site within the body using both the endoscope light source and the illumination apparatus light source;

wherein the endoscope light source alone would not have been sufficient to illuminate the first target site; and

wherein a second endoscope is not used.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the body is a human body.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the passageway is a urethra.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein illuminating the target site is necessary to locate a passageway to a second target site.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the second target site is a kidney and the method comprises the further step of removing the illumination apparatus and inserting the endoscope into a second passageway comprising the ureter.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising advancing the endoscope up the ureter to the kidney and illuminating the kidney with the light source on the endoscope.

44. The method of claim 38

wherein the endoscope further comprises one or more light emitting devices fixedly disposed on or in the endoscope;

wherein the illumination apparatus further comprises one or more light carriers having an insertion end optically coupled to the one or more light emitting devices fixedly mounted on the endoscope handle; and

wherein the illumination apparatus light source is the insertion end of the light carriers.

46. A molded access sheath comprising a body integrally molded with a light carrier that optically couples with a light emission device, the body sized and shaped to couple with an endoscope'"'"'s insertion end.