Miniature endoscope system

• US 8,317,689 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VisionScope Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: VisionScope Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Remijan, Paul, LaBombard, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P
• Application Number:
  US09/660,840
• Time in Patent Office: 4,458 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/112, 600/114, 600/121, 600/125, 600/130, 600/136, 600/138, 600/160, 600/176, 600/178, 600/179, 600/182
• US Class Current: 600/182
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00126 optical, e.g. for light supply cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope

Abstract

The present invention relates to a small diameter endoscope in which a handle is removably attached to a probe. The probe includes a fiber optic illumination channel that is concentric about an imaging channel. The handle includes an imaging device that detects light from the imaging channel and a sterile barrier that can be extended over the handle for use. Relay optics couples the small diameter imaging channel to the imaging device in the handle. The probe has a mounting hub that connects the probe to the handle and also serves to optically couple the fiber optic illumination channel to a light source.

Claims

1. A miniature endoscope for orthopedic imaging comprising:

a probe for orthopedic diagnostic imaging, the probe including a fiber optic imaging waveguide that transmits an image, and having a diameter of less than 2 mm and a length between 2 cm and 10 cm, the probe having a mounting hub;

a fiber optic illumination channel within the probe that is concentric about the optical waveguide, the illumination channel being positioned between an inner sheath and an outer sheath;

a handle removeably attached to the mounting hub of the probe with a connector;

a light source that is optically coupled to the fiber optic illumination channel with the mounting hub;

a cannula that receives a distal end of the probe such that the outer sheath slides within the cannula, the cannula having a locking mechanism at a proximal end that attaches to the probe;

a sterile barrier attached to the mounting hub and that can be extended over the handle;

an optical lens coupled to a distal end of the waveguide;

an optical relay mounted in the handle and that is optically coupled to a proximal end of the waveguide; and

an imaging device mounted in the handle at a proximal end of the optical relay that receives an image from the optical waveguide.

2. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the endoscope has an outer diameter of 1.6 mm or less.

3. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide has an outer diameter between 0.6 and 1.6 mm.

4. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the illumination channel includes a binary phase ring which disperses light from the illumination channel.

5. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide comprises a glass having a refractive index in the range between 1.6 and 1.9.

6. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the waveguide comprises a glass rod.

7. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical waveguide further comprises a light absorbing layer having a thickness between 5 and 10 μ

m.

8. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical waveguide further comprises a light absorbing layer having an extramural absorption glass.

9. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical waveguide further comprises a light absorbing layer having a refractive index of 1.6 or less.

10. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the illumination channel has a wall thickness in a range of 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm.

11. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the illumination channel has a refractive index in a range between 1.4 and 1.6.

12. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the outer sheath comprises a metal tube.

13. The miniature endoscope of claim 12 wherein the outer sheath comprises a polyamide coating.

14. The miniature endoscope of claim 13 wherein the polyamide coating has a thickness between 100 and 150 μ

m.

15. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical relay comprises one or more lenses.

16. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the optical lens comprises a plastic lens.

17. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the imaging device comprises a charge coupled device.

18. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the cannula further comprises a distal needle that penetrates tissue.

19. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a display connected to the imaging device.

20. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the illumination channel is optically coupled to a light source with a lens in the handle.

21. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 further comprising an optical coupler that optically connects the light source to the illumination channel.

22. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the cannula further comprises a fluid delivery port.

23. The miniature endoscope of claim 22 wherein the barrier is attached to a rigid waveguide housing that is connected to the handle.

24. The miniature endoscope of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a lamp within the handle that is optically coupled to the illumination channel.

25. The endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a tube around the optical waveguide and an outer tube around the fiber optic illumination channel.

26. The endoscope of claim 25 wherein the outer tube is a plastic material.

27. The endoscope of claim 25 wherein the tube comprises a metal.

28. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the endoscope probe has a length to diameter ratio between 40:

1 and 60;

1.

29. The endoscope of claim 1 further comprising a computer connected to the imaging device.

30. The endoscope of claim 29 further comprising an image processing sequence.

31. The endoscope of claim 30 wherein the image processing sequence subtracts a stored light distribution pattern from a video image.

32. The endoscope of claim 31 wherein the stored light distribution pattern corresponds with a light reflection pattern for the endoscope.

33. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the concentric illumination channel has a thickness of 10 microns.

34. The endoscope of claim 1 wherein the concentric illumination channel has a thickness of 30 microns.

35. A miniature endoscope for orthopedic imaging comprising:

a probe for orthopedic diagnostic imaging, the probe including a fiber optic imaging channel having a diameter in a range of 0.6 mm to 1.6 mm and the probe having a diameter less than 2 mm and a mounting hub;

a tube surrounding the imaging channel;

a fiber optic illumination channel within the probe that is concentric about the tube and the imaging channel and a light source that is optically coupled to the fiber optic illumination channel with the mounting hub attached to the handle, the illumination channel having a thickness in a range of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm;

an outer tube around the fiber optic illumination channel;

a handle removably attached to the probe with a connector;

a cannula that receives a distal end of the probe such that the distal end of the probe slides within the cannula, the cannula having a locking mechanism at a proximal end that attaches to the probe;

a sterile barrier attached to the mounting hub that can be extended over the handle;

a first lens and a second lens that are optically coupled to a distal end of the imaging channel;

an optical relay mounted in the handle and optically coupled to a proximal end of the imaging channel; and

an imaging device mounted in the handle and optically coupled to a proximal end of the optical relay.

36. The miniature endoscope of claim 35 wherein the imaging device comprises a charge coupled device.

37. The miniature endoscope of claim 35 wherein the imaging channel comprises a transparent material having a refractive index of at least 1.6.

38. The miniature endoscope of claim 37 wherein the imaging light channel comprises a glass rod.

39. The miniature endoscope of claim 38 wherein the glass rod comprises an F2 or an F7 glass.

40. The miniature endoscope of claim 35 further comprising a light absorbing layer around the imaging channel.

41. The miniature endoscope of claim 35 wherein the illumination channel is coupled to the light source with a fiber optic connector.

42. The miniature endoscope of claim 35 wherein the endoscope has a display connected to the imaging device for arthroscopic examination.