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Portable endoscope and method of use thereof

  • US 9,757,150 B2
  • Filed: 11/22/2011
  • Issued: 09/12/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A portable endoscope comprising:

  • a case including an outer peripheral wall and opposing distal and proximal portions with distal and proximal terminal ends, and a length of the case comprising the distance between the distal and proximal ends, wherein the outer wall is cylindrically shaped and constant diameter over the entire length, the diameter of the portable endoscope not exceeding the diameter of the outer peripheral wall, wherein;

    the outer peripheral wall of the proximal portion includes a handle configured for an operator to grasp to insert the distal portion into a nostril of a patient and remove the distal portion from within the nostril of a patient, wherein the outer peripheral wall of the distal portion has a smaller outer circumference than an inner circumference of the nostril of the patient, the inner circumference of the nostril comprising the distance between the columella and ala and the nostril extending toward one or more of the sinuses, whereby the distal portion is inserted into the nostril of the patient between the columella and ala toward the one or more sinuses and removed by pulling the proximal portion away from the one or more sinuses out of the nostril of the patient and wherein movement of the proximal portion manipulates the position of the distal portion relative to the columella, ala and the one or more sinuses within the nostril of the patient during a medical procedure;

    a lens enclosed by the outer peripheral wall of the case at the distal terminal end, the lens having one or more positions relative to the distal terminal end wherein the lens is rotated into the one or more positions [0096];

    an interconnect disposed in the case toward the proximal terminal end, the proximal portion of the case being removably connected to the distal portion of the case at the interconnect, wherein the proximal portion of the case is removable from the distal portion of the case to insert and remove electrical components [0102];

    a pair of opposing sidewalls parallel to one another and extending from the distal terminal end toward the proximal portion, wherein the sidewalls are generally perpendicular to the lens;

    a flexible portion disposed in the proximal portion of the case, wherein the proximal portion of the case is unaligned with the distal portion of the case by angling the distal portion relative to the proximal portion by bending the flexible portion [0109];

    a control switch disposed directly opposite the lens on the proximal terminal end and extending outward from the proximal terminal end, and configured to control one or more functions of the portable endoscope, wherein the control switch has on and off position, and wherein the length of the case remains unchanged during operation of the control switch from the on position to the off position;

    the electrical components of the portable endoscope enclosed within the case, the electrical components comprising;

    a camera disposed proximate the lens and configured to capture video content within the body of the patient;

    one or more lights disposed proximate the lens between the camera and outer peripheral wall of the case, wherein the one or more lights at least partially encompass opposing sides of the camera, the one or more lights adapted to illuminate the body orifice of the patient; and

    a transceiver in electrical communication with the camera, wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the video content from the camera and wirelessly transmit the video content to a computing or communications device;

    wherein the lens, the one or more lights and the camera are enclosed within the pair of parallel, opposing sidewalls.

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