Methods for imaging the anatomy with an anatomically secured scanner assembly

• US 8,273,015 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Youmans, David C., Sheetz, Jane A., Long, Gary L., Ritchie, Paul G., Cropper, Michael S., Brophy, Jere J., White, Bradley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Philip R
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOU, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/749,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 600/182, 600/155, 600/166, 600/110, 600/101, 600/109, 600/113, 600/114, 600/173, 600/160, 600/129
• US Class Current: 600/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00183 for variable viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/028 Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

A method for viewing a portion of a patient'"'"'s anatomy that comprises placing a scanner assembly including an oscillating reflector in the anatomy, securing the scanner assembly to an anatomical structure, scanning the anatomy with the scanner assembly secured to the anatomical structure, collecting radiation returned from the scanned anatomy, and generating a displayable image of the anatomy.

Claims

1. A scanner assembly and a collector that converts from a first conformation to facilitate percutaneous insertion into a patient'"'"'s anatomy and a second conformation to facilitate imaging a portion of the anatomy after the percutaneous insertion comprising:

a scanner assembly that scans radiation from a radiation source across a portion of the anatomy, the scanner assembly having an insertion end; and

a plurality of collecting fiber bundles that receive radiation returned from the portion of the anatomy, collecting fiber bundles being arranged around the periphery of the scanner assembly, wherein each of the collecting fiber bundles are longitudinally staggered a distance away from the insertion end of the scanner and are staggered relative to one another in the first conformation such that the combination of the plurality of collecting fiber bundles and the scanner assembly provides a pointed end for percutaneously inserting the scanner assembly and the collecting fiber bundles into the anatomy and in the second conformation the plurality of collecting fiber bundles were moved through the distance to place an end of each of the collecting fiber bundles into alignment with the insertion end of the scanner assembly to provide an imaging end.

2. The combined scanner assembly and collector of claim 1 wherein the scanner assembly includes an oscillating reflector.