MULTI CAMERA ENDOSCOPE HAVING A SIDE SERVICE CHANNEL

• US 20120232340A1
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Peer Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: LEVY, Avi, LEVI, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00097 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/044 for absorption imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use

Abstract

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly comprising at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith, at least one side-pointing camera and at least one of side illuminator associated therewith, a front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool and a side service channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.

Claims

1. A tip section of an endoscope, the tip section comprising:

at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith;

at least one side-pointing camera and at least one of side illuminator associated therewith;

a front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool; and

a side service channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.

2. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and at least one of said front illuminator.

3. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said side-pointing camera and at least one of said side illuminator.

4. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

5. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras.

6. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein each of said side-pointing cameras is directed to opposing sides.

7. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein each of said side-pointing cameras is essentially perpendicular to said front camera surface.

8. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said at least one side-pointing camera forms an obtuse angle with said front camera surface.

9. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein said at least one side-pointing camera forms an acute angle with said front camera surface.

10. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said side service channel is curved at an angle of about 90°

relative to the long dimension of said tip section towards a side wall of said tip section.

11. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said side service channel is curved at an obtuse angle relative to the long dimension of said assembly, towards a side wall of said tip section.

12. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said side service channel is curved at an acute angle relative to the long dimension of said assembly, towards a side wall of said tip section.

13. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said front working channel is further configured for insertion of a cleaning fluid and wherein said side service channel is configured for suctioning said cleaning fluid.

14. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said side service channel is further configured for insertion of a cleaning fluid and wherein said front working channel is configured for suctioning said cleaning fluid.

15. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, comprising two side service channels directed essentially to opposing sides of said tip section.

16. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said side service channel comprises a proximal section which splits into two distal sections directed essentially to opposing sides of said tip section.

17. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 16, wherein each one of said two distal sections is curved at an angle of about 90°

relative to the long dimension of said tip section towards a side wall of said tip section.

18. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 16, wherein each one of said two distal sections is curved at an obtuse angle relative to the long dimension of said tip section towards a side wall of said tip section.

19. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 16, wherein each one of said two distal sections is curved at an acute angle relative to the long dimension of said tip section towards a side wall of said tip section.

20. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators comprises at least one discrete illuminator.

21. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 20, wherein each of said front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

22. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light.

23. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

24. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light.

25. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light.

26. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths.

27. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein each of said front-pointing camera and said side-pointing camera comprises an image sensor.

28. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said front and side fluid injectors are connected to a same fluid supply channel.

29. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.

30. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a flexible endoscope.

31. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a gastroscope.

32. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein fields of view of said front-pointing camera and side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping.

33. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 90 degrees or more.

34. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 120 degrees or more.

35. The tip section of an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a focal length of approximately 3-100 millimeters.