MULTI CAMERA ENDOSCOPE ASSEMBLY HAVING MULTIPLE WORKING CHANNELS

• US 20120232343A1
• 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 9,101,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• 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 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• 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 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use

Abstract

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly, the 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 first front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool and a second front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.

Claims

1. An endoscope assembly, the 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 first front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool; and

a second front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.

2. The assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly 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 assembly according to claim 1, wherein said assembly comprises two side-pointing cameras.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said side-pointing cameras is directed to opposing sides.

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

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one side-pointing camera forms an obtuse angle with said front camera.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one side-pointing camera forms an acute angle with said front camera.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators comprises at least one discrete illuminator.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein each of said front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit white light.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit infrared light.

15. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit near-infrared light.

16. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths.

17. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said front-pointing camera and said side-pointing camera comprises an image sensor.

18. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said front and side fluid injectors are connected to a same fluid supply channel.

19. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.

20. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a flexible endoscope.

21. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a gastroscope.

22. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein fields of view of said front-pointing camera and side-pointing camera are at least partially overlapping.

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

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

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