Medical scope device with improved radio frequency data interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11096554-B2
Application number	US-202016751501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2020
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2021
Grant date	Aug 24, 2021

Abstract

A medical camera system includes a video medical scope defining an enclosed space within a distal portion and a proximal portion that a user can attach and detach to each other. The two portions both have an interface for coupling to each other allowing radio frequency communications across a patient isolation barrier having improvements to avoid interfering with surrounding equipment. Power transfer elements provide for power transfer across the patient isolation barrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A video medical scope defining an enclosed space between a first portion and a second portion, the video medical scope comprising:
at least one image sensor for providing image data;
a first interface arranged within the first portion comprising
a first RF transmitter including a first RF antenna communicatively coupled to a first RF modulator that converts the image data to modulated image data;
a first power transfer element for contactless transmission of electrical power across the enclosed space; and

a second interface arranged within the second portion and configured to releasably couple to the first interface on opposite sides of the enclosed space, the second interface comprising
a first RF receiver including a second RF antenna configured to receive the modulated image data from the first RF antenna;
a second power transfer element for contactless transmission of electrical power when the first power transfer element is placed within a power coupling distance from the second power transfer element,

wherein the first RF antenna comprises a short range low power RF antenna centrally located along an axis of rotation whereby the first interface and the second interface rotate with respect to each other,
wherein the first RF transmitter is configured to transmit the modulated image data across the enclosed space to the first RF receiver when the first and second interfaces are coupled.

2. The scope according to claim 1 , further comprising a second RF modulator arranged within the second portion, the second RF modulator adapted to communicate with a camera control unit (CCU) to modulate at least control data for the image sensor.

3. The scope according to claim 1 , further comprising a first faraday cage structure positioned surrounding the first RF antenna in all directions excepting a first direction and a second faraday cage structure positioned surrounding the second RF antenna in all directions excepting a second direction opposite the first direction when the first and second interface are coupled.

4. The scope according to claim 1 , wherein the first RF antenna is a directional antenna having a directional emission pattern directed toward the second antenna and the second RF antenna is a directional antenna having a directional emission pattern directed toward the first RF antenna when the first and second interfaces are coupled.

5. The scope according to claim 1 , wherein the first RF modulator and the first RF antenna comprise a low power, near-field radio transmitter.

6. The scope according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a first receptacle into which the first portion is adapted to be partially inserted to couple with first and second portions, the first power transfer element comprising an inductive coil positioned along an outer edge of the first portion and the second transfer element comprising an inductive coil positioned around an inside wall of the first receptacle.

7. The scope according to claim 1 , wherein the second power transfer element comprises a first flat inductive coil positioned in a radial extension of the second portion and the first power transfer element comprises a second flat inductive coil positioned in a radial extension of the first portion.

8. The scope according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion contains an illumination light emitting device.

9. A video medical scope defining an enclosed space between a first portion and a second portion, the video medical scope comprising:
at least one image sensor for providing image data;
a first interface arranged within the first portion comprising
a first RF transmitter including a first RF antenna communicatively coupled to a first RF modulator that converts the image data to modulated image data; and
a first power transfer element for contactless transmission of electrical power across the enclosed space; and

a second interface arranged within the second portion comprising
a first RF receiver including a second RF antenna configured to receive the modulated image data from the first RF antenna; and
a second power transfer element for contactless transmission of electrical power when the first power transfer element is placed within a power coupling distance from the second power transfer element;

the first RF transmitter configured to transmit the modulated image data across the enclosed space to the first RF receiver when the first and second interfaces are coupled,
the first RF antenna is a directional antenna having a directional emission pattern directed toward the second antenna and the second RF antenna is a directional antenna having a directional emission pattern directed toward the first RF antenna when the first and second interfaces are coupled.

10. The scope according to claim 9 , further comprising a first faraday cage structure positioned surrounding the first RF antenna in all directions excepting a first direction and a second faraday cage structure positioned surrounding the second RF antenna in all directions excepting a second direction opposite the first direction when the first and second interface are coupled.

11. The scope according to claim 9 , wherein the first RF modulator and the first RF antenna comprise a low power, near-field radio transmitter.

12. The scope according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion includes a first receptacle into which the first portion is adapted to be partially inserted to couple with first and second portions, the first power transfer element comprising an inductive coil positioned along an outer edge of the first portion and the second transfer element comprising an inductive coil positioned around an inside wall of the first receptacle.

13. The scope according to claim 9 , wherein the second power transfer element comprises a first flat inductive coil positioned in a radial extension of the second portion and the first power transfer element comprises a second flat inductive coil positioned in a radial extension of the first portion.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Amling Marc R
• Schemm Helga
• Duckett Iii George E
• Hale Eric

Classifications

• A61B1/00029

  externally powered, e.g. wireless · CPC title

• A61B1/045

  Control thereof · CPC title

• A61B1/273

  for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes · CPC title

• A61B1/00016 Primary

  using wireless means · CPC title

• A61B1/00013

  using optical means · CPC title