Multi-Focal, Multi-Camera Endoscope Systems

• US 20160015258A1
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EndoChoice Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Levin, Victor, Salman, Golan, Levy, Idan, David, Uri
• Granted Patent: US 10,258,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• 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 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

A multi-focal, multi-camera endoscope having a tip section including a first optical assembly for generating a first image of a body cavity; a second optical assembly for generating a second image of a body cavity; at least one illuminator associated with each of the first optical assembly and second optical assembly; and a processing system configured to: zoom the first optical assembly and thereby generate a zoomed first image in place of the first image; and automatically cause a physical display to eliminate a display of the second image and to only display said zoomed first image. To eliminate the display of the second image, the processing system reduces a power supply to the second optical assembly, reduces an illumination intensity of an illuminator associated with the second optical assembly or causes the physical display to power off, darken, or blacken.

Claims

1. A tip section of an endoscope, comprising:

a first optical assembly for generating a first image of a body cavity;

a second optical assembly for generating a second image of a body cavity;

at least one illuminator associated with each of the first optical assembly and second optical assembly; and

a processing system configured to;

zoom the first optical assembly and thereby generate a zoomed first image in place of the first image; and

automatically cause a physical display to eliminate a display of the second image and to only display said zoomed first image.

2. The tip section of claim 1, wherein, to eliminate the display of the second image, the processing system reduces a power supply to the second optical assembly.

3. The tip section of claim 1, wherein, to eliminate the display of the second image, the processing system reduces an illumination intensity of said at least one illuminator associated with the second optical assembly.

4. The tip section of claim 1, wherein, to eliminate the display of the second image, the processing system causes the physical display to power off, darken, or blacken.

5. The tip section of claim 1, wherein the first optical assembly is a front-pointing optical assembly and the second optical assembly is a first side-pointing optical assembly.

6. The tip section of claim 5, further comprising a third optical assembly for generating a third image of the body cavity and displaying said third image on a corresponding third screen, wherein the third optical assembly is a second side-pointing optical assembly.

7. The tip section of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second optical assemblies is configured to operate at a first working distance and a second working distance.

8. The tip section of claim 7, wherein said zoomed image is created when said at least one optical assembly is switched from said first working distance to said second working distance.

9. The tip section of claim 8, wherein said first working distance provides magnification ranging between 100×

to 6×

.

10. The tip section of claim 8, wherein said second working distance provides magnification ranging between 250×

to 100×

.

11. A method of using an endoscope having a tip section with at least two optical assemblies and at least one illuminator associated with each of said at least two optical assemblies, the method comprising:

generating at least two images of a body cavity from each of said at least two optical assemblies;

displaying a first image and a second image of the at least two images on a first screen and a second screen, respectively;

zooming one of said at least two optical assemblies to generate and display a zoomed image in place of the first image of the at least two images; and

automatically eliminating a display of the second image of the at least two images on the second screen.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein eliminating the display of the second image of the at least two images is performed by reducing a power supply to the optical assembly generating the second image of the at least two images.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein eliminating the display of the second image of the at least two images is enabled by reducing an illumination intensity of said at least one illuminator associated with the optical assembly generating the second image of the at least two images.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein eliminating the display of the second image of the at least two images is enabled by powering off, darkening, or blackening one of said at least two screens corresponding to the display of the second image of the at least two images.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a first of said at least two optical assemblies is a front-pointing optical assembly and a second of said at least two optical assemblies is a first side-pointing optical assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising a third optical assembly for generating a third image of the body cavity and displaying said third image on a corresponding third screen, wherein the third optical assembly is a second side-pointing optical assembly.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of said at least two optical assemblies is configured to operate at a first working distance and a second working distance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said zoomed image is created when said optical assembly is switched from said first working distance to said second working distance.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first working distance provides magnification ranging between 100×

to 6×

.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said second working distance provides magnification ranging between 250×

to 100×

.