Imaging system, method and distal attachment for multidirectional field of view endoscopy

• US 9,629,528 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woods, Kevin, Bouma, Brett Eugene, Tearney, Guillermo J., Kang, Dongkyun, Wu, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): NEAL, TIMOTHY JAY
• Application Number:
  US14/389,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 600104, 600178, 600153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00137 End pieces at either end of the endoscope, e.g. caps, seals or forceps plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus for imaging at least one anatomical structure can be provided. For example, the apparatus can include an endoscopic first arrangement, a radiation source second arrangement which provides at least one electro-magnetic radiation, and a third arrangement attached to at least one portion of the endoscopic arrangement. The third arrangement can contain an optical arrangement which, upon impact by the at least one electro-magnetic radiation and based thereon, may transmit a first radiation and reflects a second radiation. The first radiation can impact at least one first portion of the anatomical structure(s), and the second radiation can impact at least one second portion of the anatomical structure(s). The first and second portions can be at least partially different from one another. Further, the first and second radiations can have characteristics which are different from one another.

Claims

1. An apparatus for imaging at least one anatomical structure, comprising:

an imaging probe first arrangement;

a radiation source second arrangement provides at least one electro-magnetic radiation;

a third arrangement attached to at least one portion of the first arrangement, and containing an optical arrangement which, upon impact by the at least one electro-magnetic radiation and based thereon, transmits a first radiation and reflects a second radiation, wherein the first radiation impacts at least one first portion of the at least one anatomical structure, and the second radiation impacts at least one second portion of the at least one anatomical structure, the first and second portions being at least partially different from one another;

a detector arrangement, wherein the imaging probe first arrangement is associated with the radiation source second arrangement and the detector arrangement; and

an electronic arrangement which is configured to synchronize the radiation source second arrangement and the detector arrangement,

wherein the optical arrangement causes the first and second radiations to have characteristics which are different from one another,

wherein the first radiation is directed in a forward direction, and wherein the second radiation is directed in a direction that is different from the forward direction, and

wherein the radiation source second arrangement includes a modulation arrangement which is configured to alternate the first and second radiations.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics are wavelengths or polarizations.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second radiations have spectral regions in red, green and blue band which do not substantially overlap with one another.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second radiation is directed in a backward direction or a side direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optical arrangement causes the second radiation to simultaneously illuminate between 270 and 360 degrees of a field of view with respect to a longitudinal axis of a probe.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third arrangement includes a cap that is connected to an end portion of the first arrangement.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic arrangement which is configured (i) synchronize the modulation arrangement and the detector arrangement, and (ii) control the detector arrangement to detect signals from the at least one anatomical structure illuminated by the first and second radiations, and separate the signals based the synchronization with the modulation arrangement.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anatomical structure is a luminal anatomical structure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third arrangement includes at least one opening which facilitates a passage of instrumentation, air gasses and fluids therethrough.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tube associated with the third arrangement, and provides a passage of instrumentation, air gasses and fluids therethrough.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second radiations have a specific polarization status.