Robotic endoscope with wireless interface
First Claim
1. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
- providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit, and wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope inventory.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
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providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit, and wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope inventory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
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providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit, and wherein said remote server is adapted to perform patient scheduling. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
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providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) a plurality of electronically controlled, electroactive polymer actuators, said actuators controlling the shape of the endoscope portion in 3-dimensional space based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit and wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope portion inventory.
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29. A method of examining a body lumen comprising:
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providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising;
(a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises;
(i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data;
(ii) a plurality of electronically controlled, electroactive polymer actuators, said actuators controlling the shape of the endoscope portion in 3-dimensional space based on received control signals;
(iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and
(iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and
(b) a control and display unit comprising;
(i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver;
(ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and
(iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers;
inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and
examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit and wherein said remote server is adapted to perform patient scheduling.
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Specification