METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IMAGING AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF A CORPOREAL CAVITY

• US 20110295061A1
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanamed LLC
• Original Assignee: Nanamed LLC
• Inventors: HARAMATY, LIOR, HADANI, RON
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope

Abstract

An endoscopic imaging catheter is configured for insertion, optionally via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic insertion tube. The endoscopic imaging catheter includes reflecting and optical elements and an imaging element. The reflecting element reflects onto the imaging element through the optical element side and rear views of at least a portion, or the entire 360° view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.

Claims

1. An auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter for insertion via a longitudinal channel of an endoscopic insertion tube, comprising:

an optical element and

an imaging element,

wherein the optical element and the imaging element are capable of capturing an image of up to 360°

of the side and rearward-looking views of a corporeal wall encircling an intrabody lumen.

2. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a reflecting optical element that is distal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

3. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the optical element is distal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

4. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein the optical element is proximal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

5. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source located proximal to the imaging element.

6. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 5, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

7. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source located distal to the imaging element.

8. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 7, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

9. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source located proximal to the optical element.

10. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 9, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

11. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source located distal to the optical element.

12. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 11, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

13. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source attached to one end of a rotatable wire.

14. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 13, wherein rotating or wobbling of said rotatable wire in its other end around its long axis allows rotating or wobbling said illumination source to cover a motion of 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter, allowing the illumination of said side and rear view or at least a portion, of the entire 360°

view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen, which is located behind the imaging element, around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.

15. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source comprising a single light source or a plurality of light sources.

16. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 15, wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LEDs.

17. The auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1, wherein said endoscopic insertion tube is capable of performing a procedure from a group consisting of anoscopy, arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, esophagogastro-duodenoscopy (EGD), laparoscopy, and sigrnoidoscopy.

18. A system comprising an endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1 and a sheath sized and shaped to cover said the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

19. A method of probing an intrabody lumen, comprising:

inserting a standard endoscope having a working channel into a patient'"'"'s organ or corporeal lumen;

inserting an endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 1 into the working channel; and

advancing the distal tip of the imaging catheter distal to the working channel of the endoscope,

wherein first and second images of the intrabody lumen and a segment of an inner wall encircling said intrabody lumen can be captured.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first and second images are captured substantially simultaneously.

21. An endoscopic imaging catheter for capturing rearward images, comprising:

an optical element;

an imaging element; and

an illumination source,

wherein the optical element and the imaging element are capable of capturing an image of up to 360°

of the side and rearward-looking views of a corporeal wall encircling an intrabody lumen and wherein the illumination source comprises a 360°

ring capable of illuminating up to 360°

around a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

22. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the optical element comprises a reflecting optical element that is distal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

23. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the optical element is distal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

24. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the optical element is proximal in relation to said imaging element when the catheter exits the longitudinal channel.

25. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is located proximal to the imaging element.

26. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 25, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

27. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is located distal to the imaging element.

28. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 27, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

29. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is located proximal to the optical element.

30. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 29, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

31. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is located distal to the optical element.

32. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 31, where the illumination source is structured and mounted as a 360°

ring thus illuminating the side, rear, and optionally front field of view of said imaging element, up to 360°

around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter.

33. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source is attached to one end of a rotatable wire.

34. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 33, wherein rotating or wobbling of said rotatable wire in its other end around its long axis allows rotating or wobbling said illumination source to cover a motion of 360°

degrees around the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary endoscopic imaging catheter, allowing the illumination of said side and rear view or at least a portion, of the entire 360°

view of a wall encircling an intrabody lumen, which is located behind the imaging element, around the axis of said the longitudinal channel.

35. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein the illumination source comprises a single light source or a plurality of light sources.

36. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 35, wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LEDs.

37. The endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21, wherein said endoscopic insertion is capable of performing a procedure from a group consisting of anoscopy, arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, esophagogastro-duodenoscopy (EGD), laparoscopy, and sigrnoidoscopy.

38. A system comprising an endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21 and a sheath sized and shaped to cover said endoscopic imaging catheter.

39. A method of probing an intrabody lumen, comprising:

inserting an endoscopic imaging catheter of claim 21 into an intrabody lumen; and

advancing the distal tip of the imaging catheter through the intrabody lumen,

wherein first and second images of the intrabody lumen and a segment of an inner wall encircling said intrabody lumen can be captured.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said first and second images are captured substantially simultaneously.