METHODS AND DEVICES OF IMAGING AND BIOPSY

• US 20120029291A1
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ikona Medical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ikona Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Wallace, Jeffrey M., Venkatesha, Santosh, Peacock, Keith, Thakor, Nitish V., Natarajah, Ananth
• Application Number:
  US13/253,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0625 for multiple fixed illumination angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0291 for uterus A61B10/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

Certain embodiments include an endoscope and methods for imaging using the endoscope. The endoscope may include an imaging channel and a tip positioned at one end of the imaging channel, the tip adapted to collect light from a field of view that extends 360° around at least a portion of the endoscope and to transmit the light to the imaging channel. Certain embodiments may also utilize various sensors, controllers and processing mechanisms to record and process images into a representation, move the endoscope in and out of the endometrial cavity, and to biopsy a portion of the endometrium.

Claims

1. A method for imaging an endometrial cavity, comprising:

positioning an endoscope at least partially within the endometrial cavity; and

imaging tissue within the endometrial cavity around a circumference of at least a portion of the endoscope.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a plurality of images of the endometrial cavity by moving the endoscope through at least a portion of the endometrial cavity and imaging tissue around the circumference of at least a portion of the endoscope at a plurality of positions within the endometrial cavity;

storing the plurality of images; and

processing the images with an image data processing system to create at least one representation of at least a portion of the endometrial cavity.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising displaying the at least one representation to a viewing device.

4. A method as in claim 2, further comprising illuminating the endometrial cavity and acquiring the light radiating from the endometrial cavity.

5. A method as in claim 2, further comprising performing the imaging of tissue around the circumference of at least a portion of the endoscope in the absence of distending media in the endometrial cavity.

6. A method as in claim 2, where the system alleviates the experience or skill required from the user commonly needed for hysteroscopy in order to image the endometrial cavity.

7. A method as in claim 2, wherein the endoscope includes at least one of a reflective element and a refractive element.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising performing the imaging using a specific wavelength or a specific bandwidth of light.

9. A method as in claim 7, further comprising performing the imaging using at least one of visible, ultra-violet and infrared wavelength light.

10. A method as in claim 7, further comprising performing the imaging using at least one of reflected imaging, scattered light imaging and florescence imaging of the endometrial cavity.