Detachable Shaft Flexible Endoscope

• US 20140107416A1
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Endovision, Inc. (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Endovision, Inc. (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Birnkrant, Dashiell A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,107,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00057 provided with means for testing or calibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes

Abstract

A flexible endoscope includes a handle, a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a coupling mechanism releasably attaching the handle to the distal end of the flexible shaft, an illumination unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the illumination unit providing light to an area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, and an imaging unit disposed in the flexible shaft, the imaging unit generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of the flexible shaft, wherein the coupling mechanism includes an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to the illumination unit and the imaging unit, and a data channel for transmitting the image data from the imaging unit.

Claims

1. A flexible endoscope, comprising:

a handle;

a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a coupling mechanism releasably attaching said handle to the proximal end of said flexible shaft;

an illumination unit disposed in the flexible shaft, said illumination unit providing light to an area in front of the distal end of said flexible shaft; and

an imaging unit disposed in the flexible shaft, said imaging unit generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of said flexible shaft;

wherein said coupling mechanism includes an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to said illumination unit and said imaging unit, and a data channel for transmitting the image data from said imaging unit.

2. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein said shaft comprises a check valve disposed on said shaft, said check valve communicatively connecting an interior of said shaft to outside and being adapted to indicate a presence of fluid in the interior and release said fluid.

3. The flexible endoscope of claim 2, wherein said check valve is adapted to releasably connect to a pump for removing said fluid from the interior of said shaft.

4. The flexible endoscope of claim 2, wherein said check valve further comprises a vent valve, said vent valve being adapted to adjust the pressure of the interior of said shaft.

5. The flexible endoscope of claim 4, wherein said vent valve maintains said interior and outside equally in pressure.

6. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein said coupling mechanical comprises a first component disposed on the proximal end of the flexible shaft and a second component disposed on the handle, said first component and second component having complimentary shapes, wherein said first component interlocks with said second component to create a secure attachment therebetween.

7. The flexible endoscope of claim 6, wherein the first component forms a first seal with said shaft and said second component forms a second seal with said handle, said first and second seals independently reduce the likelihood of fluid being communicated into an interior of said shaft and an interior of said handle, respectively.

8. The flexible endoscope of claim 6, wherein said first component bears on said second component to create an external seal, said external seal reducing the likelihood that fluid is communicated into a region between the shaft and the handle.

9. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, further comprising a controller disposed in the handle, said controller receiving the image data for processing into a data format for display and sending a control signal for adjusting an image quality of said imaging unit through said data channel.

10. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein the illumination unit comprises:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed at the proximal end of said flexible shaft;

a light-transmitting fiber bundle extending between the LED and the distal end of said flexible shaft, said light-transmitting fiber bundle transmitting light from said LED; and

a power cable transmitting electrical power from the electrical channel of said coupling mechanism to the LED.

11. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein said illumination unit comprises:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) disposed at the distal end of the shaft; and

a power cable transmitting electrical power from the electrical channel of said coupling mechanism to the LED.

12. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprises:

an image sensor disposed at the distal end of said flexible shaft, said image sensor captures an image of the area in front of the distal end of said flexible shaft and generates said image data; and

an image-transmitting cable for transmitting said image data to the data channel of said coupling mechanism.

13. The flexible endoscope of claim 12, wherein the image sensor is a solid state image sensor.

14. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, further comprising:

an articulation unit disposed in said flexible shaft, said articulation unit being adapted to bend a distal portion of said flexible shaft in a plane; and

a steering control disposed on said flexible shaft proximate to said proximal end, said steering control controlling the bending of the distal portion of said flexible shaft.

15. The flexible endoscope of claim 14, wherein the articulation unit includes at least one tension wire coupled to the distal end of the flexible shaft and extending to the steering control;

and

wherein the steering control is movable, said movement adjusts a tension in the tension wire, and said adjustment of tension controls the bending of the distal portion of said flexible shaft.

16. The flexible endoscope of claim 1, wherein said flexible shaft has an inlet port positioned at the proximal end, an outlet port formed in the distal end, and a working channel extending between said inlet port and said outlet port, said working channel providing passage for fluid or a medical instrument.

17. A flexible endoscope system comprising:

a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a coupling mechanism releasably attaching the proximal end of said flexible shaft to one of a plurality of handles;

an illumination unit in said flexible shaft providing light to an area in front of the distal end of said flexible shaft; and

an imaging unit in said flexible shaft generating image data of the area in front of the distal end of said flexible shaft;

wherein said coupling mechanism includes an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power to said illumination unit and said imaging unit, and a data channel for transmitting the image data from said imaging unit to said handle; and

wherein each of said plurality of handles is adapted to communicate said image data to an auxiliary device.

18. The flexible endoscope system of claim 17, wherein the shaft comprises a check valve disposed on said shaft, said check valve communicatively connecting an interior of said shaft to outside and being adapted to indicate a presence of fluid in the interior and release said fluid.

19. The flexible endoscope system of claim 17, wherein said coupling mechanism comprises a first component disposed on the proximal end of the flexible shaft and a second component disposed on each of said plurality of handles, said first component and second components having complimentary shapes, wherein said first component interlocks with the second component of said one of the plurality of handles to create a secure attachment therebetween.

20. The flexible endoscope system of claim 19, wherein said first component bears on said second component to create an external seal, said external seal reducing the likelihood that fluid is communicated into a region between the shaft and the handle.

21. The flexible endoscope system of claim 17, further comprising:

an articulation unit disposed in said flexible shaft, said articulation unit being adapted to bend a distal portion of said flexible shaft in a plane;

an

a steering control disposed on said flexible shaft proximate to said proximal end, said steering control controlling the bending of the distal portion of said flexible shaft.

22. The flexible endoscope system of claim 17, further comprising a controller disposed in the handle, said controller receiving the image data for processing into a data format for display and sending a control signal for adjusting an image quality of said imaging unit through said data channel.

23. The flexible endoscope system of claim 22, wherein said auxiliary device is adapted to control said controller to adjust an image quality of said imaging unit.

24. The flexible endoscope system of claim 22, wherein the one of said plurality of handles comprises a cable adapted to plug into said auxiliary device, said cable providing communication between said auxiliary device and said controller and providing transmission of said electrical power from said auxiliary device to said handle and said coupling mechanism;

and

wherein said auxiliary device processes said image data for display on a monitor.

25. The flexible endoscope system of claim 24, wherein said auxiliary device comprises a camera control unit.

26. The flexible endoscope system of claim 24, wherein said auxiliary device comprises a computer.

27. The flexible endoscope system of claim 22, wherein the one of said plurality of handles comprises:

an internal battery source for providing said electrical power to said illumination unit and said imaging unit; and

a transmitter-receiver for wirelessly communicating with said auxiliary device, wherein said auxiliary device processes said image data for display on a monitor.

28. The flexible endoscope system of claim 22, wherein the one of said plurality of handles comprises:

an internal battery source for providing said electrical power to said illumination unit and said imaging unit; and

an integrated video screen for displaying said image data, said video screen being said auxiliary device.

29. A method for using a flexible endoscope, comprising the steps of:

providing an endoscope having a handle, a detachable, flexible shaft, and a coupling mechanism comprising a first component disposed on a proximal end of said shaft and a second component disposed on a distal end of said handle;

mating said first component with said second component;

locking said first component with said second component to form a secure connection between the shaft and the handle;

opening a check valve disposed on the shaft, said valve communicatively connecting an interior of the shaft to outside and being adapted to release fluid that may be present in said interior;

wherein said locking of the first and second components forms a seal between said flexible shaft and said handle, creates an electrical channel for transmitting electrical power from the handle to an illumination unit and an imaging unit in said flexible shaft, and creates a data channel for transmitting image data generated by the imaging unit to a controller in said handle.