Digital-based medical devices

• US 9,642,517 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Robert J., Lia, Raymond A., Salvati, Jon R., Vivenzio, Robert L., Edwards, Ian K., Goldfain, Ervin, Wolff, Colin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US14/592,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20150126810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 351206, 351221, 351246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00011 characterised by signal transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00039 provided with input arrangements for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00186 with imaging filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0019 characterised by variable lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/233 for the nose, i.e. nasoscopes , e.g. testing of patency of Eustachian tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3612 with images taken automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/363 Use of fiducial points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 : Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 : using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 : of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 : Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0493 : controlled by voice
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/146 : for optical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 : Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 : Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0025 : characterised by electronic signal processing, e.g. eye models
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/1208 : Multiple lens hand-held instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 : Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 : Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 : Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 : Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 : Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making

Abstract

An otoscopic instrument with an instrument head. The instrument head having a housing, an optical component disposed along an imaging axis, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a ring-like configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing with the illumination system disposed within the housing.

Claims

1. An otoscopic instrument comprising:

an instrument head, the instrument head having a housing;

an optical component disposed along an imaging axis; and

an illumination system,

wherein the illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing, and

wherein the illumination system is disposed within the housing.

2. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the distal end of the housing includes a frusto-conical insertion portion configured to releasably receive a speculum tip element that can be positioned a predetermined distance into the ear of a patient.

3. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 2, wherein a portion of the speculum tip element is optically translucent.

4. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for reducing fogging of the optical component.

5. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for dissipating heat produced by the plurality of LEDs.

6. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising a focusing assembly.

7. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the wavelength of light emitted by the illumination system.

8. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 7, wherein the adjusting means includes at least one optical filter that is selectively movable into the imaging axis.

9. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the instrument is configured for at least one of optically imaging and spectrally imaging a target of interest.

10. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is a white LED.

11. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein the illumination system further comprises a light polarizing element.

12. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one LED of the plurality of LEDs is a multi-color LED.

13. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein each LED in the plurality of LEDs is separately illuminable and each emitting light having a different wavelength than another one of the LEDs.

14. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for controlling a property of the light emitted by the illumination system.

15. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for controlling a property of the light comprises a filter positioned forward of the illumination system.

16. An otoscopic instrument as recited in claim 15, wherein the filter comprises a color filter or a polarizing filter.

17. A method of performing an otoscopic examination, the method comprising the steps of:

illuminating a target of interest with an otoscopic instrument having a housing,

wherein the housing includes an illumination system with a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent the distal end of the housing; and

adjusting the wavelength of light emitted by the illumination system; and

spectrally imaging the target of interest.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of spectrally imaging the target of interest using the plurality of LEDs includes an additional step of activating an LED of the plurality of LEDs that is a multi-color LED.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of illuminating the target of interest using the white light comprises the additional step of activating a plurality of LEDs emitting light of different colors for generating the white light.

20. A method of manufacturing an otoscopic instrument comprising:

providing an instrument head, the instrument head having a housing;

providing an optical component disposed along an imaging axis; and

providing an illumination system,

wherein the illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a circumferential configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing, and

wherein the illumination system is disposed with the housing.