Portable endoscope

• US 9,055,863 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: Krupa, Robert J., Laflash, William F., Root, Thomas V., Levshina, Aleksandra A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDERSON, RYAN N
• Application Number:
  US11/599,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,136 Days
• Field of Search: 600/131, 600/160, 600/130, 600/133, 600/101, 600/155, 600178-180, 362/555, 73/493
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Provided herein are water-tight, portable endoscopes that include the light and power source incorporated into a sealed compartment (also referred to herein as sealed canister) within the endoscope handle. The description also features water-tight, endoscope handles that include the light and power source incorporated into a sealed canister within the handle. In some embodiments, the sealed compartment contains all of the electronic components of the endoscope.

Claims

1. An endoscope, comprising:

a handle formed of a housing having a sealed interior;

a sealed container which houses a light emitting diode (LED), an LED power source, and a gas-permeable membrane, the sealed container being fully enclosed within the sealed interior and providing fluid communication with the sealed interior through the gas-permeable membrane, wherein the gas-permeable membrane is gas-permeable and liquid impermeable, thereby allowing gas to enter the sealed container during pressurized leak testing;

a valve formed on the housing, wherein the valve allows fluid communication between an environment external to the housing and the sealed interior;

a magnetic power switch comprising a moveable magnetic source on an exterior of the housing and a magnetically activatable switch inside the sealed container; and

an elongated shaft extending from a distal end of the handle.

2. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the gas-permeable membrane comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

3. The endoscope of claim 1, wherein the gas-permeable membrane is impermeable to liquid up to about 10 PSI.

4. The endoscope of claim 1, further comprising a door wherein the door allows access to the sealed container from the exterior of the housing when the door is in an open position.