Endoscopic instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12256901-B2
Application number	US-202318193887-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2023
Priority date	Aug 13, 2020
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

This disclosure relates to instruments and methods of performing an endoscopy. An endoscope for producing images of a surgery in vivo may include a hub and an imaging rod extending from the hub, the imaging rod being configured to direct the light to an imaging sensor located adjacent to a distal end of the imaging rod, the hub and the imaging rod being attached to form an assembly having a center of mass established distally of the hub. In other implementations, the hub may be omitted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An endoscope for producing images of a surgery in vivo, the endoscope comprising:
a hub; and
an imaging rod extending from the hub along a longitudinal axis to a distal end portion, wherein an imaging sensor is located adjacent to the distal end portion of the imaging rod, the hub and the imaging rod are attached to form a hub assembly having a center of mass established at a first position aligned with a second position along the imaging rod relative to the longitudinal axis, the second position of the imaging rod is spaced apart from the hub, a first length is established between the distal end portion and an interface between the imaging rod and the hub, the second position is established at a second length from the interface, and the second length is greater than or equal to 10 percent of the first length.

2. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises electronics configured to transmit image data from the imaging sensor.

3. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a light supply.

4. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises a power supply.

5. The endoscope of claim 4 , wherein the power supply is proximal of the interface between the imaging rod and the hub.

6. The endoscope of claim 5 , wherein a distal most portion of the hub is connected to the imaging rod at the interface.

7. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises electronics configured to transmit image data wirelessly, digitally, and/or across a coaxial cable in an analog signal.

8. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub assembly is symmetric with respect to a reference plane extending along the longitudinal axis.

9. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub is cylindrical.

10. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein a length of the hub is less than 0.75× of the first length of the imaging rod.

11. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the hub is less than 5× of a diameter of the imaging rod.

12. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein a weight of the hub is less than 2× of a weight of the imaging rod.

13. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the hub comprises:
electronics including an electronic circuit, a light supply and an optical coupler;
wherein the electronic circuit is configured to transmit image data from the imaging sensor;
wherein the light supply is connected to the electronic circuit, and the light supply is configured to generate illumination in vivo;
wherein the optical coupler is configured to communicate light from the light supply to a fiber optic, and the fiber optic is configured to transmit light from the hub to the distal end portion of the imaging rod;
an enclosure configured to enclose the electronic circuit, the light supply and the optical coupler; and
a hub coupler connecting the imaging rod to the enclosure.

14. The endoscope of claim 13 , further comprising:
a cable assembly including a first cable, a second cable, a connector and a button yoke having one or more controls; and
wherein the first cable is coupled to a proximal end portion of the hub assembly, the button yoke interconnects the first and second cables, the second cable interconnects the button yoke and the connector, and the connector has a terminal configured to interface with an external device.

15. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising:
a light source adjacent to the distal end portion of the imaging rod.

16. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured in an array to surround the imaging sensor; and
wherein the light sources are respective pathways configured to branch from a common light source and/or wherein the light sources are individually controllable.

17. The endoscope of claim 1 , further comprising:
electronics coupled to the imaging sensor; and
wherein the electronics are arranged in an internal cavity of the imaging rod.

18. The endoscope of claim 17 , wherein the electronics are arranged adjacent to the distal end portion of the imaging rod.

19. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the imaging rod is configured to direct light to an area adjacent to the distal end portion of the imaging rod.

20. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the center of mass is offset from the imaging rod.

21. The endoscope of claim 1 , wherein the second length is greater than or equal to approximately 25 percent of the first length.

22. The endoscope of claim 21 , wherein the second length is less than or equal to approximately 50 percent of the first length.

Assignees

• Arthrex Inc

Inventors

• Hedges Benjamin Perry
• Melton Andrew W
• Kellar Ryan
• Dominguez Zachary

Classifications

• A61B1/0607

  for annular illumination · CPC title

• A61B1/00126

  optical, e.g. for light supply cables · CPC title

• A61B1/00114 Primary

  Electrical cables in or with an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/00027

  characterised by power supply · CPC title

• A61B1/00016

  using wireless means · CPC title