Endoscope and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596298-B2
Application number	US-201916552931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Aug 27, 2018
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

An endoscope includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A handle is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, and an image sensor is carried on the distal end of the shaft. A channel extends through at least a distal shaft portion and has a channel diameter, and a section of the channel is re-configurable between a constricted shape and a non-constricted shape to accommodate tools introduced therethrough. The combined diagonal dimension and channel diameter is usually greater than the outer shaft diameter. The image sensor may be connected to a connector on the housing by a first slack flex circuit and a lights source on the shaft may be connected to a connector on the housing by a second slack flex circuit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope electrically coupled to an image display and configured for use with an elongated tool, the endoscope comprising:
an elongated shaft having a shaft assembly located at a proximal end of the elongated shaft, an image sensor and a lens facing distally at a distal end of the elongated shaft;
a handle coupled to the shaft assembly, where the shaft assembly is rotatable in the handle;
a working channel extending through the elongated shaft and having a proximal channel portion and a distal channel portion, the proximal channel portion having a central axis and a first cross section, the distal channel portion having a second reduced cross-section in a first position;
wherein the distal channel portion is expandable such that advancement of the elongated tool therein expands the distal channel portion about the central axis into a second position which permits advancement of a portion of the elongated tool out of the distal channel portion while the portion remains in alignment with the central axis, wherein the distal channel portion comprises a first sidewall cut-out and a second sidewall cut-out which permits the distal channel portion to flex outwardly to the second position;
a support sleeve located about a portion of the distal channel portion, the support sleeve configured to flex outwardly with the distal channel portion, wherein the support sleeve urges the distal channel portion inward upon removal of the elongated tool;
a flexible hinge extending along the distal channel portion;
a first accelerometer coupled to the elongated shaft such that rotation of the elongated shaft rotates the first accelerometer and the elongated shaft, wherein the first accelerometer is configured to provide signals to determine rotation of the image sensor relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, wherein the signals permit rotation of an image on the image display; and
a lower guide surface adjacent to the support sleeve of the distal channel portion, wherein the lower guide surface provides a sliding interface against which the elongated tool can advance through the distal end without contacting the support sleeve.

2. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a second accelerometer located within the handle wherein when in the first position the image sensor has a 0 to 15 degree viewing angle relative to the central axis.

3. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a flex circuit having a plurality of electrical conductors which are configured to transmit power and image signals to and from the image sensor, the flex circuit including outer dielectric layers that are configured to shield the plurality of electrical conductors from electrical interference.

4. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the support sleeve comprises an elongated discontinuity extending along a length of the support sleeve.

5. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the flexible hinge is located at an intermediate segment that is adjacent to the distal end, wherein insertion of the elongated tool causes the distal end of the elongated shaft to displace the support sleeve radially away from the central axis.

6. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising a housing configured to carry the image sensor and at least one light emitting diode.

7. The endoscope of claim 6 , further comprising an upper guide surface adjacent to the housing, wherein advancement of the elongated shaft distally beyond the working channel causes the elongated tool to push against the upper guide surface moving the distal channel portion into the second position.

8. An endoscope comprising:
an elongated shaft extending about a central axis to a distal end carrying an image sensor at a distal end of the elongated shaft;
an distal segment adjacent to the distal end of the elongated shaft, wherein the distal segment comprises a first sidewall cut-out and a second sidewall cut-out;
a working channel within the elongated shaft and having a proximal channel portion and a distal channel portion in an angled position with respect to the central axis, wherein the distal channel portion extends through the distal segment of the elongated shaft, wherein in the angled position the distal channel portion comprises a first cross-sectional area that smaller than a cross-sectional area of the proximal channel portion;
a flexible hinge extending along the working channel and located between the distal channel portion and proximal channel portion;
wherein the first sidewall cut-out and the second sidewall cut-out permit the distal segment to flex outwardly when an elongated tool shaft is advanced through the working channel and wherein passage of the elongated tool shaft through the distal channel portion causes the distal segment of the elongated shaft to flex outwardly to move the distal channel portion from the angled position to a second position having to permit a portion of the elongated tool shaft to advance out of the distal channel portion in alignment with the central axis of the working channel;
a support sleeve located about a portion of the distal segment, the support sleeve urges the distal segment inward upon removal of the elongated tool shaft,
a housing configured to carry the image sensor and at least one light emitting diode; and
a lower guide surface coupled to a sleeve of the working channel, wherein the lower guide surface provides a sliding interface against which the elongated tool shaft can advance through the distal segment without contacting the support sleeve.

9. The endoscope of claim 8 , wherein the support sleeve comprises an elongated discontinuity extending along a length of the support sleeve.

10. The endoscope of claim 8 , wherein the flexible hinge is located at an intermediate segment that is adjacent to the distal segment, wherein insertion of the elongated tool shaft causes the distal end of the elongated shaft to displace radially away from the central axis.

11. The endoscope of claim 8 , further comprising an upper guide surface coupled to the housing, wherein advancement of the elongated tool shaft distally beyond the working channel causes the elongated tool shaft to push against the upper guide surface to deflect the housing.

Assignees

• Meditrina Inc

Inventors

• Toth Akos
• Skalnyi Eugene
• Shadduck John H
• Truckai Csaba

Classifications

• G02B23/2484 Primary

  Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device (processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70) · CPC title

• A61B1/05 Primary

  characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion · CPC title

• G06T3/60

  Rotation of whole images or parts thereof · CPC title

• A61B1/00042

  for mechanical operation · CPC title

• A61B1/018

  for receiving instruments · CPC title