Robotic endoscope with wireless interface

• US 20060293563A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucien Alfred Jr. Couvillon, Michael S. Banik
• Original Assignee: Lucien Alfred Jr. Couvillon, Michael S. Banik
• Inventors: Couvillon, Lucien Alfred Jr., Banik, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0053 using distributed actuators, e.g. artificial muscles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0058 using shape-memory elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0058 having an electroactive polymer material, e.g. for steering purposes, for control of flexibility, for locking, for opening or closing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.

Claims

1. A system for tracking and supplying a single-use medical device to a facility comprising:

a single-use medical device;

an identifier associated with the single-use medical device to indicate usage status of the single-use medical device; and

a server which receives identified single-use medical device information and information regarding scheduled patient procedures and schedules a supply of the single-use medical device to the facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the single-use medical device comprises an endoscope.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the single-use medical device comprises an endoscope comprising an articulating endoscope tip portion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the single-use medical device comprises a wireless endoscope.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the single-use medical device comprises a catheter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server schedules a manufacturing and shipping operation to supply the single-use medical device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the server identifies and schedules the return of used single-use medical device to a manufacturing facility for processing.

8. A single-use endoscope supply system comprising:

an endoscope apparatus comprising;

(a) an endoscope portion having a sensor for providing endoscope data and a transceiver for transmitting endoscope data from the sensor to one or more electronically controlled actuators, (b) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based upon received endoscope data from the sensors, and (c) a server coupled to the endoscope apparatus adapted to receive an identifier associated with the single-use endoscope to indicate usage status of the single-use endoscope.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the server tracks inventory of the single-use endoscope and schedules the return of used single-use endoscopes to a manufacturing facility and shipment of single-use endoscopes to replace depleted inventory.

10. A method for remotely tracking single-use medical devices at one or more hospitals comprising:

detecting an identifier associated with each single-use medical device at one or more hospitals;

sending the identified single-use medical device information to a central server along with information regarding scheduled patient procedures;

determining single-use medical device future requirements at one or more hospitals based on said scheduled patient procedures and said identified single use medical device information; and

forwarding said single-use medical device future requirements to a manufacturing facility that manufactures each said single use medical device

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of scheduling a manufacturing operation and a shipping operation to supply said single-use medical device to said one or more hospitals prior to complete inventory depletion.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the single-use medical device comprises an endoscope.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the single-use medical device comprises an endoscope comprising an articulating endoscope tip portion.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the single-use medical device comprises a wireless endoscope.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the single-use medical device comprises a catheter.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the single-use medical device comprises a steerable catheter.