Articulated endoscope with specific advantages for laryngoscopy

• US 5,846,183 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert T. Chilcoat
• Original Assignee: Robert T. Chilcoat
• Inventors: Chilcoat, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/888,450
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 600/120, 600/121, 600/123, 600/125, 600/101, 600/136, 600/133, 600/139, 600/141, 600/147, 600/146, 600/114, 433/29
• US Class Current: 600/136
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes

Abstract

A flexible fiber-optic endoscope having a plurality of independently removable modules wherein such modules contain components including a hollow body assembly with a steerable articulation section having a control means for remote manipulation, a tubular fiber-optic assembly incorporating an objective lens and an optic image guide and an optical eyepiece for viewing images carried by the image guide, and a disposable cover assembly for covering the steerable articulation section.

Claims

1. A flexible fiber-optic endoscope comprising:

a plurality of independently removable modules wherein;

a first module comprises a hollow body assembly containing a hollow, flexible, tubular member having a steerable articulation section at a distal end thereof, said hollow body assembly including handle means for holding said endoscope during operation thereof and control means for remotely manipulating said steerable articulation section;

a second module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a tubular fiber optic assembly incorporating an objective lens at its distal end, and an optical image guide for conducting an image formed by said objective lens to a proximal end of said fiber optic assembly; and

a third module captivated within and independently removable from said hollow body assembly comprises an optical eyepiece assembly located at a proximal end of said hollow body assembly for viewing images carried by said image guide.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said control means for remotely manipulating said steerable articulation section comprises a joystick.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a tubular polymer member having circumferential voids for articulation.

4. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a bellows member for providing articulation.

5. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said first module comprises at least two control wires coupled to said steerable articulation section for providing four-way articulation thereof.

6. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said first module comprises at least three control wires coupled to said steerable articulation section for providing four-way articulation thereof.

7. An endoscope according to claim 1 and further comprising a disposable cover assembly fastened over said steerable articulation section and having an optical window at its distal tip.

8. An endoscope according to claim 7 in which said disposable cover is stretched over said flexible shaft and is held in stretched configuration by a barb assembly provided on said first module adjacent said hollow body assembly and engaging a proximal end of said cover.

9. An endoscope according to claim 8 wherein said disposable cover further comprises working channels formed in the walls thereof.

10. An endoscope according to claim 9 wherein said disposable cover further comprises working channels attached to the walls thereof.

11. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said first module further comprises illumination optical fibers for carrying illumination light to said distal end of said assembly and means for coupling a source of illumination light to a proximate end of said illumination optical fibers.

12. An endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said second module further comprises illumination optical fibers for carrying illumination light to said distal end of said assembly and means for coupling a source of illumination light to a proximate end of said illumination optical fibers.

13. A flexible fiber-optic endoscope comprising:

a plurality of independently removable modules wherein;

a first module comprises a hollow body assembly containing a hollow, flexible, tubular member having a steerable articulation section at a distal end thereof, said hollow body assembly including handle means for holding said endoscope during operation thereof and control means for remotely manipulating said steerable articulation section;

a second module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a tubular fiber optic assembly incorporating an objective lens at its distal end, and an optical image guide for conducting an image formed by said objective lens to a proximal end of said fiber optic assembly;

a third module captivated within and independently removable from said hollow body assembly comprises an optical eyepiece assembly located at a proximal end of said hollow body assembly for viewing images carried by said image guide; and

wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a tubular polymer member having a pattern of circumferential slits formed therein which are thereafter caused to form vertebrae for articulation by heating and stretching said tubular member.

14. A flexible fiber-optic endoscope comprising:

a plurality of independently removable modules wherein;

a tubular carrier and optical eyepiece module comprises a hollow body assembly containing an optical eyepiece assembly coupled to a proximal end of said hollow body assembly, said hollow body assembly including handle means for holding said endoscope during operation thereof; and

an articulation section and control module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a hollow, flexible, tubular member having a steerable articulation section at a distal end thereof, and control means for remotely manipulating said steerable section; and

a fiber-optic module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a tubular fiber optic assembly incorporating an objective lens at its distal end, and-a optical image guide for conducting an image formed by said objective lens to a proximal end of said fiber optic assembly, said image being viewable through said optical eyepiece assembly.

15. An endoscope according to claim 14 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a tubular polymer member having circumferential voids for articulation.

16. An endoscope according to claim 14 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a bellows member for providing articulation.

17. An endoscope according to claim 14 and further comprising a disposable cover assembly module fastened over said steerable articulation section and having an optical window at its distal tip.

18. A flexible fiber-optic endoscope comprising:

a plurality of independently removable modules wherein;

a first module comprises a hollow body assembly, said hollow body assembly including handle means for holding said endoscope during operation thereof;

a tubular member module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a hollow, flexible, tubular member having a steerable articulation section at a distal end thereof, and control means for remotely manipulating said steerable articulation section;

a second module captivated at a proximal end within said hollow body assembly and independently removable therefrom as a module comprises a tubular fiber optic assembly incorporating an objective lens at its distal end, and an optical image guide for conducting an image formed by said objective lens to a proximal end of said fiber optic assembly; and

a third module captivated within and independently removable from said hollow body assembly comprises an optical eyepiece assembly located at a proximal end of said hollow body assembly for viewing images carried by said image guide.

19. An endoscope according to claim 18 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a tubular polymer member having circumferential voids for articulation.

20. An endoscope according to claim 18 wherein said steerable articulation section comprises a bellows member for providing articulation.

21. An endoscope according to claim 18 and further comprising a disposable cover assembly fastened over said steerable articulation section and having an optical window at its distal tip.