PORTABLE LAPAROSCOPE SYSTEM

• US 20130253368A1
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
• Inventors: Are, Chandrakanth, Are, Madhuri, Alexander, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US13/991,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20130253368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/560
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00013 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00108 characterised by self-sufficient functionality for stand-alone use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3132 for laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing

Abstract

A portable laparoscope is disclosed. In implementations, the portable laparoscope includes a housing and an elongated tube coupled to the housing. A lighting source and a camera are disposed proximate to an end of the elongated tube opposite the housing. The camera is configured to capture an image in a viewing area that is illuminated by light provided by the lighting source. The portable laparoscope includes an image display apparatus configured to display the images acquired by the camera and/or to transmit the images to a remote display device. The housing may be configured to hold and position an insufflator.

Claims

1. A portable laparoscope system comprising:

a housing;

an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the second end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing, the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;

an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;

a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;

an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; and

an image display apparatus disposed of the housing and coupled with the image capture device for at least one of displaying or transmitting an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device.

2. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus comprises a transmitter communicatively coupled to the image capture device, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image to a receiver communicatively coupled to an image display device.

3. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus comprises a display configured to display the image.

4. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 2, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network.

5. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 4, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network conforming to 802.11 standards.

6. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 5, wherein the wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission network.

7. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to the light source, the image capture device, the insufflator, and the image display apparatus, the power source configured to provide a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light source, the image capture device, the insufflators, or the image display apparatus.

8. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 7, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

9. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, the insufflator further comprising:

a portable gas supply;

a gas tube for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and

a gas regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas tube.

10. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein the insufflator is disposed in the housing.

11. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a memory interface disposed of the housing, the memory interface configured to receive a removable memory element.

12. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus comprises a projection device.

13. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 3, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display device.

14. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus and the image capture device are communicatively coupled via a wired configuration.

15. A portable laparoscope comprising:

an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;

a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with the second end of the elongated tube;

an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;

a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;

an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted;

a display disposed of the housing and coupled with the image capture device for displaying an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device; and

a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to the light source, the image capture device, the insufflator, and the display, the power source configured to provide a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light source, the image capture device, the insufflators, and the display.

16. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 15, wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display device.

17. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 15, wherein the insufflator further comprises:

a portable gas supply;

a gas tube for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and

a gas regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas tube.

18. A portable laparoscope comprising:

an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;

a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with the second end of the elongated tube;

an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;

a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;

an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; and

a transmitter disposed of the housing and communicatively coupled with the image capture device for transmitting an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device to a receiver coupled to an image display device.

19. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 18, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network.

20. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 18, wherein the wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission network.