MULTI-CAMERA ENDOSCOPE

• US 20130109916A1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Peer Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: LEVY, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 9,872,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00174 characterised by the viewing angles
• 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 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

There is provided herein a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing cameras having a discrete side illuminator associated therewith, and a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool.

Claims

1. A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:

a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith;

two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing cameras having a discrete side illuminator associated therewith; and

a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool.

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

3. The tip section according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid injector configured for cleaning said front-pointing camera and/or said discrete front illuminator.

4. The tip section according to claim 1, further comprising two or more side fluid injectors configured for cleaning said two or more side-pointing cameras and/or said discrete side illuminators.

5. The tip section according to claim 1, comprising two side-pointing cameras.

6. The tip section according to claim 1, comprising two side-pointing cameras pointing at directions essentially opposing to one another.

7. The tip section according to claim 1, comprising three or more side-pointing cameras positioned essentially at equal distances from each other along the perimeter of said tip section.

8. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein said discrete front illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

9. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein each of said discrete side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

10. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein each of said discrete front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

11. The tip section according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.

12. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:

an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises;

a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith;

two or more side-pointing cameras positioned at or in proximity to a distal end of said tip section, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing cameras having a discrete side illuminator associated therewith; and

a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool.

13. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section further comprises a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

14. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section further comprises a fluid injector configured for cleaning said front-pointing camera and/or said discrete front illuminator.

15. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section further comprises two or more side fluid injectors configured for cleaning said two or more side-pointing cameras and/or said discrete side illuminators.

16. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras.

17. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section comprises two side-pointing cameras pointing at directions essentially opposing to one another.

18. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said tip section comprises three or more side-pointing cameras positioned essentially at equal distances from each other along the perimeter of said tip section.

19. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said discrete front illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

20. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein each of said discrete side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

21. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein each of said discrete front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

22. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.