Endoscope

• US 10,045,685 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PSIP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Avantis Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bayer, Lex, Rasmussen, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDERSON, RYAN N
• Application Number:
  US13/463,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 600104, 600106, 600107, 600109-113, 600160-181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00174 characterised by the viewing angles
• 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 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• 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 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes

Abstract

An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end and an imaging device with a steerable extension. The proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end region and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end cap, an imaging device, and a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an insertion tube comprising a sheath having a longitudinal axis, a longitudinal channel, and two windows that form a wall portion of the sheath and that are disposed on opposed lateral sides of the sheath, the insertion tube further comprising an end cap located at a distal-most end of the sheath;

a first imaging device located at a distal end of the insertion tube;

two side-mounted imaging devices, each mounted inside the sheath and on a proximal end surface of the end cap perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the two windows are disposed over each of the two side-mounted imaging devices; and

a controller configured to combine image data from the two side-mounted imaging devices to simulate a continuous view; and

wherein the first imaging device and each of the two side-mounted imaging devices each have an imaging unit and a light source, the first imaging device is mounted on a printed circuit board coupled to the proximal end surface of the end cap, and wherein the first imaging device and the two side-mounted imaging devices are configured to simultaneously acquire and output images.

2. The endoscope system of claim 1, wherein the simulated view is a 360 degree view.

3. The endoscope system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare image data from each of the side-mounted imaging devices to identify overlap regions and to eliminate the overlap regions to simulate the continuous view.

4. The endoscope system of claim 3, wherein the continuous view is a 360 degree view.

5. The endoscope system of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a first parameter-control register that corresponds to the first imaging device and two parameter-control registers that correspond to each of the two side-mounted imaging devices, wherein each parameter-control register is addressed by a unique number.

6. The endoscope system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to adjust parameters of the first imaging device and each of the two side-mounted imaging devices by writing data commands to the parameter-control registers.

7. The endoscope system of claim 6, wherein each of the two side-mounted imaging devices comprises a signal processing circuit configured to decode the data commands and to transmit the decoded commands to the imaging unit.

8. A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the tip section comprising:

a sheath having a wall portion and an end cap located at a distal-most end of the sheath;

a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith, the front-pointing camera configured to output image data to a first display device and wherein the front-pointing camera and front illuminator are mounted on a printed circuit board coupled to a proximal end surface of the end cap;

two side-pointing cameras mounted inside the sheath and on the proximal end surface of the end cap perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sheath, wherein each of said two side-pointing cameras has a discrete side illuminator associated therewith, are each mounted to the proximal end surface of the end cap, and are disposed on opposed lateral sides of the sheath;

two windows that form a portion of the wall portion of the sheath, the two windows disposed over each of the two side-pointing cameras and the side illuminators;

a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and

a controller configured to combine image data from the two side-pointing cameras to simulate a continuous view.

9. The tip section according to claim 8, further comprising a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

10. The tip section according to claim 8, further comprising a fluid injector configured for cleaning said front-pointing camera and/or said discrete front illuminator.

11. The tip section according to claim 8, further comprising a third side-pointing camera positioned essentially at equal distances from each of the two side-pointing cameras along a circumference of the sheath.

12. The tip section according to claim 8, wherein said discrete front illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

13. The tip section according to claim 8, wherein each of said discrete side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

14. The tip section according to claim 8, wherein each of said discrete front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

15. The tip section according to claim 8, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.

16. A multi-camera endoscope comprising:

an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section turnable by way of a bending section, wherein said tip section comprises;

a sheath having a wall portion and an end cap located at a distal-most end of the sheath;

a front-pointing camera and a discrete front illuminator associated therewith, and wherein the front-pointing camera and front illuminator are mounted on a printed circuit board coupled to a proximal end surface of the end cap;

two or more side-pointing cameras mounted inside the sheath and on the proximal end surface of the end cap perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sheath, wherein each of said two or more side-pointing cameras has a discrete side illuminator associated therewith and the two side-pointing cameras are each mounted to the proximal end surface of the end cap, and are disposed on opposed lateral sides of the tip section;

two windows that form a wall portion of the sheath, the two windows disposed over each of the two side-pointing cameras and the side illuminators; and

a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool; and

a controller configured to combine image data from the two side-pointing cameras to simulate a continuous view.

17. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said tip section further comprises a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.

18. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said tip section further comprises a fluid injector configured for cleaning said front-pointing camera and/or said discrete front illuminator.

19. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said discrete front illuminator comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

20. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein each of said discrete side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

21. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein each of said discrete front and side illuminators comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).

22. The endoscope according to claim 16, wherein said endoscope is a colonoscope.