Endoscopic vision system

• US 7,004,900 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Adams, Mark L., Wendlandt, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, TU BA
• Application Number:
  US10/722,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/111, 600/112, 600/114, 600/118, 600/122, 600/137, 600/160, 600166-168, 600/173, 348/45, 348/65, 348/72, 348/75
• US Class Current: 600/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00179 for off-axis viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endoscopic visioning system and related method for both forward and backward viewing of a body lumen. According to an embodiment, the system includes an endoscope, a vision head including a light source and a vision chip on both a proximal and a distal side of the vision head, and an extension arm for moving the vision head away from and back toward the endoscope. Alternatively, the light source and vision chip may be contained in a distal end of the endoscope. In such an alternative embodiment, the vision head is a parabolic mirror mounted on the extension arm for reflecting images, for example, from behind the distal end of the endoscope to the vision chip in the distal end of the endoscope to permit, for example, a retrograde view of the surgical site entrance.

Claims

1. An endoscopic system, comprising:

an endoscope including at least two lumens and having a proximal and a distal end;

an extension arm passing through one of the lumens to the distal end of the endoscope; and

a vision head attached to a distal end of the extension arm, the vision head being configured to extend away from the distal end of the endoscope to permit retrograde vision, a proximal side of the vision head including a vision chip for obtaining an image.

2. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein one of the at least two lumens is a working lumen configured to recieve surgical tools.

3. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the vision head further includes a second vision chip on a distal side thereof.

4. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the vision head includes at least one light source.

5. The endoscopic system of claim 1, wherein the vision head is moveable toward and away from the distal end of the endoscope on the extension arm.