Image-guided laryngoscope for tracheal intubation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for intubation of a person having internal body parts, the system comprising:
- (a) an endoscope having a tip and including optical means to view the internal body parts;
(b) a camera, coupled to said endoscope, producing electronic image signals;
(c) mechanical means, responsive to control signals, for moving said endoscope tip in three dimensions; and
(d) processing means, inputting said image signals and outputting said control signals, for guiding said endoscope tip to a predetermined three-dimensional spatial position in relation to a predetermined one of the body parts, said processing means comprisinganalyzing means for analyzing said image signals to determine a distinctive geometrical shape of a viewed body part;
determining means for determining whether the distinctive geometrical shape is that of the predetermined body part; and
moving means for moving the tip to the predetermined spatial position.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to endotracheal intubation by an endoscope of the type that is automatically guidable in three dimensions in response to control signals. The endoscope has fiber optics and a TV camera for internal viewing. The TV image signals are processed to determine the geometrical shape of body parts near the tip of the endoscope. When the program determines that the vocal cords are in view, it guides the tip of the endoscope toward it and then into the trachea by sending control signals to the mechanical endoscope motion devices.
152 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A system for intubation of a person having internal body parts, the system comprising:
-
(a) an endoscope having a tip and including optical means to view the internal body parts; (b) a camera, coupled to said endoscope, producing electronic image signals; (c) mechanical means, responsive to control signals, for moving said endoscope tip in three dimensions; and (d) processing means, inputting said image signals and outputting said control signals, for guiding said endoscope tip to a predetermined three-dimensional spatial position in relation to a predetermined one of the body parts, said processing means comprising analyzing means for analyzing said image signals to determine a distinctive geometrical shape of a viewed body part; determining means for determining whether the distinctive geometrical shape is that of the predetermined body part; and moving means for moving the tip to the predetermined spatial position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable storage medium to control a system comprising:
-
(a) an endoscope having a tip and including optical means to view internal body parts; (b) a camera, coupled to said endoscope, producing electronic image signals; (c) mechanical means, responsive to control signals, for moving said endoscope tip in three dimensions; and (d) a processor; wherein the program inputs said image signals and outputs said control signals, for guiding said endoscope tip to a predetermined three-dimensional spatial position of said tip in relation to a predetermined body part, by analyzing said image signals to determine a distinctive geometrical shape of a viewed body part; determining whether the distinctive geometrical shape is that of the predetermined body part; and outputting control signals to direct said mechanical means to move said tip to the predetermined spatial position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification