Endoscope with reusable core and disposable sheath with passageways

• US 5,402,768 A
• Filed: 06/22/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro-Medical Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Edwin L. Adair
• Inventors: Adair, Edwin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARAGLIO, DONNA
• Application Number:
  US08/080,323
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6, 128/4, 128/10, 128/11, 128/17, 128/18, 128/5, 128/7, 128/8, 604/263
• US Class Current: 600/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00073 with externally grooved shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00147 Holding or positioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00151 using everted tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00174 characterised by the viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• 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 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements

Abstract

An improved endoscope has been provided which includes an elongated cylindrical shell housing with a transparent window at the distal end thereof. A removable core has an objective endoscope lens or optics at the distal end thereof and an image sensor mounted within the distal end of the core. A transmitting electronic cable with multiple conductors each has a distal end connected to the image sensor circuit board and a proximal end connected to a video control unit. Signals are transmitted from the control unit to the video monitor which displays the image. A sterile separable channel section removably receives the core in a defined relationship and has at least one longitudinal channel for transmitting fluids or for receiving an operative instrument or carrying light transmitting fiber. A flexible tube is connected to the proximal end of the channel for supplying fluid or for manipulating the operative instrument from a remote location. The separable channel section is disposable after use on a patient. Light transmitting fibers can be integral with the housing or core or inserted into at least one of the channels in the channel or sheath section.

Claims

1. An improved endoscope having a sterilizable or fluid immersible optical section and a throwaway sterile outer sheath channel section, said endoscope comprising:

an elongated cylindrical core housing, having a distal end and a proximal end, with optical lens means mounted in said distal end thereof;

an image sensor slidably received into said proximal end of said cylindrical core housing and slidable into said distal end of said cylindrical core housing adjacent to said optical lens means;

an electronic cable having a distal end connected to said image sensor and extending proximally from said cylindrical core housing for transmitting electronic signals from said image sensor to a video control unit and then to a remote image display device;

a cylindrical channel section having a cylindrical wall having a distal end and a proximal, end and with a transparent window at said distal end thereof, and having a central passageway for receiving and positioning said cylindrical core housing with said image sensor and said optical lens means adjacent said window, and having a plurality of longitudinal channels integrally disposed within and around the circumference of said cylindrical wall, communicating with said distal end thereof;

a light fiber extending through each of said channels to said distal end of said cylindrical wall, for transmitting light to the site under investigation from a remote light source; and

means for releasably connecting said housing to said channel section, said channel section being disposable after use on a patient and said housing being sterilizable or soakable for reuse with another new sterile channel section on the next patient.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a connection at said distal end of said channel section for the selective mounting of an optical attachment, said optical attachment being attached to said channel section wherein the point of attachment is delimited by the circumference of the elongated cylindrical core housing.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said optical attachment is a lens.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a tube having a distal end connected to said proximal end of said housing and extending proximally from said housing and having a proximal end, said electronic cable extending longitudinally through said tube, wherein said means for releasably connecting releasably interconnects said proximal end of said tube to said proximal end of said channel.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronic cable comprises:

focusing means connected to said image sensor for sliding said image sensor longitudinally with respect to said optical lens means to focus an image on said image sensor.