Automated control of irrigation and aspiration in a single-use endoscope

• US 8,435,172 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Banik, Michael S., Couvillon, Lucien Alfred Jr., Nguyen, Anh, Stahley, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASZTEJNA, MATTHEW JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/330,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20090306476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 600156-159
• US Class Current: 600/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/000095 for image enhancement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00068 Valve switch arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00097 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00103 designed for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/12 with cooling or rinsing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/126 provided with means for cleaning in-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is an integrated and automated irrigation and aspiration system for use in an endoscopic imaging system. The system provides for the automated cleaning of poorly prepared patients during a colonoscopy procedure as well as automated cleaning of an imaging system of an endoscope. The invention analyzes images obtained from an image sensor to detect the presence of an obstructed field of view, whereupon a wash routine is initiated to remove the obstruction. The wash routine may be adjusted in accordance with environmental conditions within the patient that are sensed by one or more sensors within the endoscope. In another embodiment, insufflation is automatically controlled to inflate a patient'"'"'s colon as a function of one or more sensor readings obtained from one or more environmental sensor(s) on the endoscope.

Claims

1. A system for automatically controlling the delivery of insufflation gas, the system comprising:

a control cabinet including a processor and one or more valves configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to a patient; and

an endoscope removably connected to the control cabinet and including a pressure sensor and an image sensor at a distal end of the endoscope;

wherein the processor is configured to obtain image signals from the image sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor and automatically control insufflation gas delivered to the patient as a function of the image signals and the pressure readings.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the delivery of insufflation gas is controlled to maintain a predefined field of view in the image signals produced by the image sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to determine a size of an inflated body cavity, and wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to maintain a predetermined inflated cavity size.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to maintain a predetermined pressure in a body cavity.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a thickness of a tissue wall surrounding the endoscope, and wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas as a function of the wall thickness detected.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the endoscope is dispensable.

7. A system for automatically controlling the delivery of insufflation gas, the system comprising:

a control cabinet including a processor and at least one valve configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas; and

an endoscope removably connected to the control cabinet and including a pressure sensor and an image sensor at a distal end of the endoscope;

wherein the processor is configured to receive image signals from the image sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor and automatically control the delivery of insufflation gas as a function of the image signals and the pressure readings by controlling actuation of the at least one valve.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to maintain a predefined view produced by the image sensor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to maintain a predetermined pressure in the body cavity and to maintain a predefined view produced by the image sensor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the control cabinet includes a manifold configured to supply insufflation gas, a liquid, and aspiration to the endoscope.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one valve is configured to control the supply of insufflation gas, the liquid, and aspiration from the manifold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the endoscope is removably coupled to the manifold.

13. A system for automatically controlling the delivery of insufflation gas, the system comprising:

a control cabinet including a processor and at least one valve configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas; and

an endoscope removably connected to the control cabinet and including a pressure sensor configured to determine a pressure in a body cavity and an image sensor;

wherein the processor is configured to receive image signals from the image sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor and automatically control the delivery of insufflation gas as a function of the image signals and the pressure readings to maintain a predetermined pressure in the body cavity by controlling actuation of the at least one valve.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to control the delivery of insufflation gas to maintain the predetermined pressure in the body cavity and to maintain a predefined view produced by the image sensor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the control cabinet includes a manifold configured to supply insufflation gas, a liquid, and aspiration to the endoscope.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one valve is configured to control the supply of insufflation gas, the liquid, and aspiration from the manifold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the endoscope is removably coupled to the manifold.