Visualization Instrument

• US 20110130632A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: King Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: King Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Chinnock, Randal B., Miller, Richard L., Grubner, George, Miller, David J., Yeh, Yun Siung Tony, McGrail, Thomas W., Hack, Brian, Palladino, Gary Vincent, Goodrich, Elizabeth Powell, Pargett, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/188
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• 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 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2446 of the image relay G02B23/26 takes precedence

Abstract

A visualization instrument comprising a display support component removably coupled to a component insertable into a target space. The insertable component includes a camera providing images of the target space. The images are presented in a display device supported by the display support component. The insertable component may be discarded after a permitted number of uses.

Claims

1. A visualization instrument, the visualization instrument comprising:

a display device;

a lens;

a camera including an imaging sensor, the camera outputting a digital image stream corresponding to a plurality of views obtained through the lens;

a handle portion detachably coupled to the display device;

a self-contained energy source supported by one of the handle portion and the display device;

an insertable portion coupled to the handle portion and insertable into the patient, the insertable portion having a distal cavity at a distal end thereof receiving the lens and the camera, the camera electronically coupled to the display device when the insertable portion is coupled to the handle portion and the handle portion is coupled to the display device to present images corresponding to the plurality of views with the display device; and

a use indicia located in one of the handle portion and the insertable portion, the use indicia operable to determine prior uses of the insertable portion and to disable presentation of the images when the prior uses exceed a permitted number of uses.

2. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the permitted number of uses is one.

3. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the use indicia provides information regarding environmental variables including at least one of temperature and humidity.

4. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the use indicia comprises a single-use fuse.

5. The visualization instrument of claim 1, further comprising a processing device cooperating with the use indicia to determine the prior uses.

6. The visualization instrument of claim 5, further comprising a sensing device electronically coupled to the processing device and sensing the use indicia to determine the prior uses.

7. The visualization instrument of claim 5, further comprising an image sensor identifier, wherein the processing device determines the prior uses based on the image sensor identifier.

8. The visualization instrument of claim 7, wherein the image sensor identifier is stored in the camera.

9. The visualization instrument of claim 7, further comprising an electronic device storing the image sensor identifier, the electronic device supported by one of the handle portion and the insertable portion and electronically coupled to the processing device when the insertable portion is coupled to the display device.

10. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the insertable portion comprises an elongate tubular member.

11. The visualization instrument of claim 10, wherein the elongate tubular member is malleable.

12. The visualization instrument of claim 10, wherein the elongate tubular member is steerable, further comprising a steering mechanism supported by the handle portion.

13. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the visualization instrument is adapted to intubate a patient with a tube, wherein the tube is distinguishable in the images presented with the display device as the tube passes through a field of view of the lens.

14. The visualization instrument of claim 1, wherein the handle portion and the insertable portion are integrally formed as a single piece blade, the blade further comprising at least two guide surfaces defining a guide pathway.

15. The visualization instrument of claim 1, further comprising a processing device, a camera identifier, a data storage device, and a plurality of camera identifiers stored in the data storage device, wherein the processing device compares the camera identifier to the plurality of camera identifiers to find a match and disables presentation of the images if the match is not found.

16. A visualization instrument partially insertable into a patient, the visualization instrument comprising:

an insertable portion having guiding means for guiding insertion of a tube into a patient;

attachment means for detachably coupling a display device to the insertable portion;

imaging means for capturing a plurality of images corresponding to a field of view of the imaging means and outputting a digital image stream operable to present corresponding images with the display device; and

use tracking means for disabling presentation of the corresponding images when the insertable portion has been used more than a permitted number of uses.

17. A visualization kit comprising:

a first component insertable into an oral cavity of a patient, the first component including a first camera operable to transmit first images of the oral cavity;

a second component different from and interchangeable with the first component, the second component including a second camera operable to transmit second images;

a third component detachably attachable to the first component and the second component and sized to be held by a hand of a user, the third component including a viewable screen and being communicatively coupled to the first camera when the third component is attached to the first component and to the second camera when the third component is attached to the second component;

wherein the viewable screen presents images corresponding to one of the first images and the second images.

18. A visualization system as in claim 17, wherein the first component comprises a guide pathway adapted to guide insertion of a tube into the oral cavity and the second component comprises a stylet.

19. A visualization method comprising the steps of:

providing an insertable component having a camera;

detachably coupling a display support component to the insertable component, the display support component sized to be held by a hand of a user and including a display device, the display support component being communicatively coupled to the camera when the display support component is coupled to the insertable component;

inserting the insertable component into a target space;

capturing with the camera a plurality of views corresponding to a field of view of the camera;

presenting with the display device a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of views;

aligning the field of view with a target within the target space;

removing the insertable component from the target space;

detaching the display support component from the insertable component; and

discarding the insertable component.

20. The visualization method of claim 19, further comprising the step of tracking uses of the insertable component and disabling presentation of the plurality of images when the insertable portion has been used more than a permitted number of uses.

21. The visualization method of claim 20, wherein the step of tracking uses comprises sensing a use indicia.

22. The visualization method of claim 20, wherein the step of tracking uses comprises storing a use indicia after use of the insertable component.

23. The visualization method of claim 19, wherein the target space is an interior of a patient and the target comprises the vocal cords of the patient, further comprising the step of intubating the patient using the insertable component before removing the insertable component from the target space.

24. The visualization method of claim 23, wherein the insertable component comprises a resilient portion, and wherein the removing step includes the step of resiliently deforming the resilient portion.

25. The visualization method of claim 19, wherein the display device includes a display side and an opposite side opposite the display side, the display support component further comprising a rest surface and a switch, the rest surface and the switch disposed on the opposite side, further comprising the step of laying the display support component to rest on the rest surface without actuating the switch.

26. The visualization method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of comparing with a processing device a camera identifier to a plurality of camera identifiers stored in a memory device to find a match, and disabling presentation of the plurality of images if the match is not found.