Automatic video instillator

• US 8,453,639 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doobae System, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
• Original Assignee: Doobae System, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
• Inventors: Kim, Jin-Sung, Lee, Bae, Hwang, In-Cheol, Song, Chang-Woo, Han, Sang-Seop
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Application Number:
  US12/531,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20100101569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/202.27, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 604/46, 604/131, 600/109, 600/110, 600/118, 600/120, 600/122
• US Class Current: 128/200.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069

Abstract

An automatic video instillator that can accurately and easily administer inhalation into an airway of an animal by providing images of a throat is provided. An automatic video instillator includes a case defining a space, a guide unit that protrudes frontward from the case to secure an airway of an animal by being inserted through a throat of the animal, an image pickup unit that is installed on a front end of the guide unit to capture images of portions in front of the guide unit, an administration unit that is installed through the case and the guide unit to administer an inhalation, an administration switch for adjusting administration of a predetermined amount of the inhalation directed to the administration unit into the airway of the animal, and an image display unit that is connected to the image pickup unit to allow a user to see the images captured by the image pickup unit.

Claims

1. An automatic video instillator comprising:

a case defining a space in which components are mounted;

a guide unit that protrudes frontward from the case to secure an airway of an animal by being inserted through a throat of the animal;

an image pickup unit that is installed on a front end of the guide unit to take images of portions in front of the guide unit;

an administration unit that is installed through the case and the guide unit to administer an inhalation;

an administration switch for adjusting administration of a predetermined amount of the inhalation directed to the administration unit into the airway of the animal;

an image display unit that is connected to the image pickup unit to allow a user to see images captured by the image pickup unit; and

a pushing member that is provided in the case to further push the administration unit frontward of the guide unit.

2. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the guide unit is detachably mounted on the case.

3. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the guide unit is formed in a straight shape or a curved shape.

4. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the image pickup unit is mounted such that a front end thereof is located in the guide unit.

5. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the pushing member includes a lever that is biased by an elastic member and fixed to the case by a hinge unit, an actuating unit that pushes the administration unit while contacting a first surface of the administration unit and being rotated by the operation of the lever, and a supporting wheel supporting a second surface of the administration unit.

6. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the image display unit is integrated with the case.

7. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the image display unit is detachably mounted on an outer side of the case.

8. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the image display unit is connected to the case by a cable.

9. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein a stand is provided on the case to easily support the instillator on the floor.

10. The automatic video instillator of claim 9, wherein a storage unit for storing the images captured by the image pickup unit is provided in the case.

11. The automatic video instillator of claim 9, wherein an image storage switch for selectively storing the images captured by the pickup unit is provided on the stand.

12. The automatic video instillator of claim 9, wherein a power connection unit for supplying electric power required for driving the image pickup unit and the image display unit from an external side is provided on the stand.

13. The automatic video instillator of claim 12, wherein a power source required for driving the image pickup device and the image display unit is a primary or secondary battery.

14. The automatic video instillator of claim 9, wherein a USB connection terminal and an image output terminal are provided on the stand.

15. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the case is provided with an access port for checking the automatic video instillator.

16. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the image pickup unit is an electronic image pickup device and the electronic image pickup device is a charge coupled device.

17. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the administration unit includes one of a plastic tube and a fused silica capillary.

18. The automatic video instillator of claim 1, wherein the administration unit is of a push/pull sliding type that moves by a manual pushing/pulling operation.

19. An automatic video instillator comprising:

a case defining a space in which components are mounted;

a guide unit that protrudes frontward from the case to secure an airway of an animal by being inserted through a throat of the animal;

an image pickup unit that is installed on a front end of the guide unit to take images of portions in front of the guide unit;

an administration unit that is installed through the case and the guide unit to administer an inhalation;

an administration switch for adjusting administration of a predetermined amount of the inhalation directed to the administration unit into the airway of the animal;

an image display unit that is connected to the image pickup unit to allow a user to see images captured by the image pickup unit; and

a pushing member that is provided in the case to further push the administration unit frontward of the guide unit;

wherein the pushing member includes a lever that is biased by an elastic member and fixed to the case by a hinge unit, an actuating unit that pushes the administration unit while contacting a first surface of the administration unit 14 and being rotated by the operation of the lever, and a supporting wheel supporting a second surface of the administration unit.

20. The automatic video instillator of claim 19, wherein the actuating unit and the supporting wheel are formed of rubber or silicon that has a relatively high frictional force.

21. The automatic video instillator of claim 19, wherein the administration unit is driven by a gear-type lever and a gear-type actuating unit, or by a motor rotating the actuating unit about a hinge.