Wirelessly Powered Medical Devices And Instruments

• US 20100179384A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: KARL Storz Development Corp.
• Inventors: Coussa, Ray, Hoeg, Hans David, Ankner, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00006 of control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00027 characterised by power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/044 for absorption imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply

Abstract

A medical device that is wirelessly powered by a resonant magnetic field, the device automatically coupling to a power transmitter in a control unit when brought within a threshold radius. In one embodiment, the control unit automatically identifies the medical device and automatically adjusts its settings to control the medical device, where the device and power transceivers may be provided detachable from either or both the endoscope/camera and camera control unit or may be provide integral to either one or both.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope;

a camera coupled to said endoscope, said camera generating image data;

a camera control unit;

a device transceiver coupled to said camera;

a power transceiver coupled to said camera control unit;

a light source generating illuminating light;

said power transceiver generating a resonant magnetic field;

said device transceiver tuned to said resonant magnetic field such that resonant interaction occurs between said device transceiver and said power transceiver and power is transmitted to said device transceiver by said resonant interaction; and

wherein electrical power is provided to said camera by said device transceiver.

2. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said camera is detachably coupled to said endoscope.

3. The endoscope system according to claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to said camera, wherein said camera transmits the image data to said display and said image data is presented on said display.

4. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said camera control unit is coupled to a network.

5. The endoscope system according to claim 4 wherein said camera control unit is coupled to a surgical suite comprising at least one controller and at least one surgical tool in addition to said endoscope.

6. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein when said device transceiver is brought within a predefined radius of said power transceiver, said power transceiver and said device transceiver automatically wirelessly couple to each other.

7. The endoscope system according to claim 6 wherein when said power transceiver and said device transceiver couple to each other, said camera and said camera control unit automatically couple to each other such that said camera control unit automatically identifies said camera and automatically adjusts operational settings of said camera control unit based upon the identification.

8. The endoscope system according to claim 1 further comprising a power storage coupled to said device transceiver such that, in the event of an interruption in the wireless resonant coupling between said device transceiver and said power transceiver, said power storage provides electrical power to said camera.

9. The endoscope system according to claim 8 wherein when said device transceiver is wirelessly resonantly coupled to said power transceiver, said power storage charges.

10. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said device transceiver is provided as a detachable module that is coupled to said camera.

11. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said device transceiver is positioned in and is integral with said camera.

12. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said power transceiver is provided as a detachable module that is coupled to said camera control unit.

13. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said power transceiver is positioned in and is integral with said camera control unit.

14. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said light source is coupled to said endoscope via an optical line.

15. The endoscope system according to claim 14 where said optical line is coupled to an optical port positioned on said endoscope.

16. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises an LED.

17. The endoscope system according to claim 16 wherein said LED is positioned on said endoscope.

18. The endoscope system according to claim 17 further comprises a power storage coupled to said endoscope for providing electrical power to said LED.

19. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said light source and said device transceiver are positioned in a module that is coupled to said camera and endoscope.

20. The endoscope system according to claim 1 further comprising a power storage wherein said power storage and said device transceiver are positioned in a module that is coupled to said camera and endoscope.

21. The endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said light source is positioned in said camera and said device transceiver is coupled to and provides electrical power to said light source.

22. A method for providing an endoscope system that comprises an endoscope, a camera and a camera control unit, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling the camera to the endoscope;

coupling a device transceiver to the camera/endoscope combination;

coupling a power transceiver to the camera control unit;

generating a resonant magnetic field with the power transceiver;

coupling the device transceiver to the power transceiver, the device transceiver tuned to the resonant magnetic field generated by the power transceiver so that resonant interaction occurs between the device transceiver and the power transceiver;

transmitting power to the device transceiver from the power transmitter;

generating electrical power with the device transceiver;

providing electrical power from the device transceiver to the camera/endoscope combination;

generating illuminating light with a light source;

transmitting the illuminating light to an area to be viewed;

positioning an imaging device on the camera/endoscope;

receiving reflected light from the area to be viewed with the imaging device;

generating image data with the imaging device; and

transmitting the image data from the camera to the camera control unit via the device transceiver and power transceiver coupling arrangement.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the camera is detachably coupled to the endoscope.

24. The method according to claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

coupling a display to the camera control unit;

transmitting image data to the display; and

presenting the image data on the display.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the camera control unit is coupled to a network.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the camera control unit is coupled to a surgical suite that includes at least one controller and at least one surgical tool in addition to the endoscope.

27. The method according to claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

coupling a power storage to the device transceiver such that, in the event of an interruption in the wireless resonant coupling between the device transceiver and the power transceiver, the power storage provides electrical power to the camera.

28. The method according to claim 22 wherein the device transceiver is provided as a detachable module that is coupled to the camera.

29. The method according to claim 22 wherein the device transceiver is positioned in and is integral with the camera.

30. The method according to claim 22 wherein the power transceiver is provided as a detachable module that is coupled to the camera control unit.

31. The method according to claim 22 wherein the power transceiver is positioned in and is integral with the camera control unit.

32. The method according to claim 22 wherein the light source is coupled to the endoscope via an optical line.

33. The method according to claim 22 wherein the light source is an LED.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein the LED is positioned on the endoscope.

35. The method according to claim 34 further comprising the steps of coupling a power storage to the endoscope and providing electrical power to the LED from the power storage.

36. The method according to claim 22 wherein the light source is positioned in the camera and the device transceiver is coupled to and provides electrical power to the light source.