Multi camera endoscope assembly having multiple working channels

• US 9,854,959 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Innovation Center Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Levy, Avi, Levi, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Henderson, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Pamela F
• Application Number:
  US14/791,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 600104, 600106, 600109, 600123, 600130, 600136, 600139, 600112, 600153, 600155, 600156, 600157, 600158, 600160, 600164, 600165, 600161, 600162, 600163, 600166, 600167, 600168, 600169, 600170, 600171, 600172, 600173, 600107, 348 45, 348 65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• 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 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use

Abstract

There is provided herein an endoscope assembly, the assembly comprising at least one front-pointing camera and at least one front illuminator associated therewith, at least one side-pointing camera and at least one of side illuminator associated therewith, a first front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool and a second front working channel configured for insertion of a medical tool.

Claims

1. An endoscope assembly, the assembly comprising:

a substantially cylindrical fluid channeling component having a length and a height, the fluid channeling component having, along said height, a first fraction, a second fraction and a third fraction, wherein the first fraction extends outward along the length of the fluid channeling component and comprises a housing that has encased therein a first working channel extending along the length of said fluid channeling component, wherein the third fraction extends outward along the length of the fluid channeling component and comprises a housing that has encased therein a second working channel extending along the length of said fluid channeling component and in parallel to the first working channel, and wherein the second fraction is a void and positioned between the first fraction and third fraction;

an electrical assembly configured to fit within said second fraction, wherein the electrical assembly comprises an integrated circuit board having mounted thereon a front-pointing camera and a side-pointing camera;

at least one front illuminator positioned adjacent the front-pointing camera and at least one side illuminator positioned adjacent the side-pointing camera; and

a tip cover section configured to fit over said fluid channeling component and said electrical assembly, wherein the tip section comprises a front working channel configured to mate to said first working channel of the fluid channeling component and provide a contiguous pathway for receiving a medical tool, at least one optical window configured to mate to said at least one front illuminator, and at least one optical window positioned along a first side of the tip section and configured to mate to said at least one side illuminator.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one front fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said front-pointing camera and said front illuminator.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one side fluid injector configured for cleaning at least one of said side-pointing camera and said side illuminator.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope assembly is inserted.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said side-pointing camera is essentially perpendicular to a surface of said front-pointing camera.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said side-pointing camera forms an obtuse angle with said front-pointing camera.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said side-pointing camera forms an acute angle with said front-pointing camera.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of at least one of said front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of at least one of said front and side illuminators is configured to emit at least one or a combination of:

white light, ultraviolet light, infrared light, or near-infrared light.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of at least one said front and side illuminators are configured to emit light in different wavelengths.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras comprises an image sensor.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a front fluid injector and a side fluid injector connected to a same fluid supply channel.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope assembly is a flexible endoscope assembly.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein fields of view of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras are at least partially overlapping.

15. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 90 degrees or more.

16. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a field of view of 120 degrees or more.

17. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said front-pointing and side-pointing cameras comprises a lens assembly providing a focal length of approximately 3-100 millimeters.

18. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a second side-pointing camera mounted on said integrated circuit board, at least one side illuminator positioned adjacent the second side-pointing camera, and at least one optical window positioned along a second side of the tip section and configured to mate to said at least one side illuminator positioned adjacent to the second side-pointing camera.

19. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein said side-pointing cameras are directed to opposing sides.