PORTABLE ENDOSCOPE FOR INTUBATION

• US 20080091064A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intra Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intra Corporation
• Inventors: LASER, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00108 characterised by self-sufficient functionality for stand-alone use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

A portable, low power, low cost, endoscope having a removable probe with a miniature digital CCD imager, single white LED illuminator and an imaging lens on the distal end and a miniature multi pin connector on the proximal end; both ends connected with a multi trace flexible circuit hidden inside of the protecting flexible sleeve; and a full color LCD monitor and associated image signal processing electronics and powered by the small battery cells.

Claims

1. A portable endoscope suitable for aiding during endotracheal intubation comprising the three modules:

a digital imaging probe module, in-line probe controller module and a display and control module.

2. The portable endoscope according to claim 1, where the in-line probe controller module is connected with the digital imaging probe module on one side and with the display and supply module on the other side;

its distance from the imaging sensor is no closer than 10 inches and from the display and supply module no longer than 30 inches.

3. The portable endoscope according to claim 1, where the display and supply module comprises the power supply, the LCD video display, image rescaling processor that converts both the temporal frame rate and the spacial resolution of the pixelated electronic image outputted by the in-line probe controller to be compatible with the NTSC or PAL video display requirements.

4. A digital imaging probe comprising:

a CCD frame transfer type image sensor in a micro ball grid array packaging, a wide angle imaging lens positioned in front of the sensitive area of the sensor, an LED illuminator positioned in the space in front of the storage area of the sensor and next to the imaging lens, an optically clear window positioned immediately in front of both the lens and the LED illuminator, a light blocking separator positioned between the lens and the LED illuminator, a flexible circuit carrying the image sensor and having an extension with the LED on its tip on one end and the multi pin connector on the other end, a cylindrical enclosure that holds all the above elements together in their relative positions and is impermeably connected to the flexible sleeve that encloses the flexible circuit.

5. The digital imaging probe according to claim 4 having diameter of the distal end no larger than 6 mm.

6. The digital imaging probe according to claim 4 where the flexible circuit is a single layer type with cold rolled copper traces.

7. The digital imaging probe according to claim 4 where the flexible circuit is a dual layer type with cold rolled copper traces.

8. The digital imaging probe according to claim 4 where the LED illuminator is a single white LED consuming less than 100 mW of power.

9. The digital imaging probe according to claim 4 where the imaging lens is a wide angle lens with the full view angle no less than 90 degrees and no more than 120 degrees.

10. A digital imaging probe having a cylindrical enclosure and comprising:

a CCD image sensor having a sensitive area and a storage area, a wide angle imaging lens positioned in front of the sensitive area of the sensor, an LED illuminator positioned in the space in front of the storage area of the sensor and next to the imaging lens, an optically clear window positioned immediately in front of both the lens and the LED illuminator, having an inner surface, a light-impermeable separator positioned between the lens and the LED illuminator, and extending to the inner surface of the window, a flexible electrical circuit having a first end in electrical communication with the image sensor and with the LED, and having a second end consisting of an electrical coupling.