MEDICAL SCOPE WITH SINGLE USE PROBE

• US 20130225924A1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Voscope Marketing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Voscope Marketing, LLC
• Inventors: Simms, Norman, Lescota, John
• Application Number:
  US13/883,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20130225924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00043 provided with output arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00062 provided with means for preventing overuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0058 using shape-memory elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements

Abstract

A medical scope with a probe capable of being utilized for a single imaging procedure is described. The medical scope has a control unit with a programmable memory unit, a socket for receiving a plug end of the probe, and the probe having a light guide and a pair of power wires extending along the length thereof. The control unit also has a display screen, a set of switches to control functions, and a light source. The probe includes a check bit memory unit for retaining a selected value that the control unit will detect, a zero value indicating a new probe and a non-zero value indicating a used probe. Therefore, the used probe will be rejected by the control unit and cannot be used again.

Claims

1. A medical scope with a single use probe, comprising:

a. a control unit having a socket formed therein;

b. a probe having a flexible shaft with a plug mounted at one end thereof, the plug adapted for engaging the socket;

c. wherein the probe comprises a check bit capable of retaining a selected value; and

d. the control unit being operational to detect a value in the probe and accept only a probe having a value equal to the selected value.

2. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, wherein the selected value is initially set to zero.

3. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a display screen.

4. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, further comprising a camera mounted at a distal end of the probe shaft.

5. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a switch for energizing the control unit and the probe, and wherein the energized control unit is de-energized only by disengaging the probe plug from the control unit socket.

6. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, further comprising a light source residing within the control unit, the light source positioned to project a light through a light guide extending from the probe plug to a distal tip of the probe shaft.

8. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim 1, wherein the external parts of the probe are formed of a medical grade resin.

7. The medical scope with a single use probe described in claim, further comprising a conformable semi-rigid member 60 extending through the shaft from the probe plug to a distal tip of the probe shaft.