U.S. patent application number 10/393580 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-01 for integrated visualization system.
Invention is credited to Dunki-Jacobs, Robert, Speeg, Trevor W.V., Wampler, Scott D..
Application Number | 20040064018 10/393580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28675277 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040064018 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dunki-Jacobs, Robert ; et
al. |
April 1, 2004 |
Integrated visualization system
Abstract
An endoscope that has an integrated light source and camera
mounted at the distal end of the endoscope. The light source is a
class of LED devices constructed of high-efficiency LEDs that emit
narrow-band blue light coupled with phosphors, which cause a nearly
natural "white" light to be emitted. The LEDs are coupled to a
waveguide for transmission of the light to the distal end of the
endoscope.
Inventors: |
Dunki-Jacobs, Robert;
(Mason, OH) ; Wampler, Scott D.; (West Chester,
OH) ; Speeg, Trevor W.V.; (Williamsburg, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIP S. JOHNSON
JOHNSON & JOHNSON
ONE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PLAZA
NEW BRUNSWICK
NJ
08933-7003
US
|
Family ID: |
28675277 |
Appl. No.: |
10/393580 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60366727 |
Mar 22, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/178 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/0676 20130101;
A61B 1/07 20130101; A61B 1/0653 20130101; A61B 1/0684 20130101;
A61B 1/00032 20130101; A61B 1/042 20130101; A61B 1/0669
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/178 |
International
Class: |
A61B 001/06 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A video endoscope comprising: a) a tube with a proximal end and
a distal end, the distal end of the tube comprising: i) a video
camera; and ii) a light guide; b) a white light source proximal to
the video camera and optically coupled to a proximal end of the
light guide; and c) a power supply connected to the video camera
and the white light source.
2. The video endoscope of claim 1, wherein the white light source
comprises at least one LED.
3. The video endoscope of claim 2, wherein the at least one LED
comprises a plurality of photodiodes contained within a single
package.
4. The video endoscope of claim 2, wherein the white light source
comprises a collection of red, blue and green LEDs in a ratio such
that the resultant emitted light is perceived to be white.
5. The video endoscope of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
photodiodes comprises a collection of red, blue and green LEDs in a
ratio such that the resultant emitted light is perceived to be
white.
6. The video endoscope of claim 1, wherein the white light source
comprises at least one tungsten bulb.
7. The video endoscope of claim 1, wherein the light guide
comprises at least one connected segment.
8. The video endoscope of claim 7, wherein the light guide is
comprised of a single molded piece.
9. The video endoscope of claim 7, wherein one connected segment is
a phosphorescent material.
10. The video endoscope of claim 7, wherein a plurality connected
segments is composed of a graded index optical material.
11. The videoscope of claim 5, wherein the connected segments are
comprised of optical fibers.
12. The videoscope of claim 1, wherein the power supply is
comprised of at least one battery.
13. A video endoscope comprising: a) a tube with a proximal end and
a distal end, the distal end comprising a video camera and a light
guide, the light guide comprising: i) a collimator segment; and a
transmission segment distal to the collimator segment and having a
smaller cross section than the collimator segment and is distal to
the collimator segment; and b) a white light source integrated
within the tube and optically coupled to the collimator segment of
the light guide.
14. The videoscope of claim 13 wherein, the white light source
comprises at least one LED.
15. The videoscope of claim 14, wherein the at least one LED
comprises a plurality of photodiodes contained within a single
package.
16. The videoscope of claim 13, wherein the white light source
comprises at least one tungsten bulb.
17. The videoscope of claim 13, wherein the collimator segment
further comprises a collimation angle less than 60 degrees.
18. The videoscope of claim 13, wherein the light guide is
comprised of a single molded piece.
Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/366,727 filed May 22, 20012, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates in general to a video scope,
and more particularly, to a endoscope useful for medical procedures
that has a self-contained camera and light source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Endoscopes are used with increasing frequency in operating
rooms. They have facilitated the growth of new minimally invasive
procedures that allow surgery to be done through small openings
into internal body cavities created by trocars and into external
body cavities through the mouth and anus. The vision necessary to
do minimally invasive surgery is accomplished by inserting
endoscopes equipped with video cameras (video endoscopes) that
display full motion images on a video monitor. These monitors are
placed near the operative field where the surgeon can see them.
[0004] Although video endoscopes and the associated equipment help
facilitate these minimally invasive procedures there are several
factors about these systems that are currently undesirable. The
most important are; i) the bulk of the equipment that is necessary
to create and display the images and their proximity to the
operative site and ii) the location and number of interconnecting
elements. Traditional endoscopes require the use of a collection of
electronic components commonly referred to as a video tower. This
rack of equipment includes several electronic components that
provide functions such as: processing of video signals from the
camera, supplying power to the tower-based equipment and the
camera, supplying visible light energy to the endoscope and
displaying the video images to the surgeon. The video endoscope
itself is connected to this video tower through a camera wire and
an optical fiber bundle that serves as a light transmission source.
This optical fiber bundle is necessary to carry light from the
tower-based source to the endoscope. Due to the light losses
inherent to the optical fiber bundle, they are typically no longer
than six feet. The lengths of these interconnecting cables require
that the video tower be forced to be in the footprint of the
operative site. Using current technology, the video tower takes up
significant space near the patient and the operating room staff. In
addition, the optical fiber bundles heavy enough to which make the
endoscope hard to manage.
[0005] As minimally invasive instruments become more advanced there
is a drive to create instruments that go through smaller ports, and
thus leave smaller wounds in the patient. Video Endoscopes must
keep pace with this decrease in cross section.
[0006] Because of these drawbacks in the traditional video
endoscope systems, there have been new designs that have tried to
remove as many of the external equipment in the system as are
possible. This would take equipment out of the footprint of the
operative area. One example includes scope designs that remove the
external light source from the video endoscope systems. In, for
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,294 by Schick et al. and U.S. Pat. No.
6,190,309 by Ooshima et al white light sources, specifically white
light emitting diodes (LEDs), are placed at the distal end of the
video endoscope to provide illumination to the operative site. This
arrangement eliminates the need to have an external light source or
a fiber optic cable. Because the light sources in this embodiment
are placed distal to the camera itself and must still be within the
cross section of the instrument, Video endoscopes so configured do
not have the ability to view axially, as would be needed in
endoscopic procedures. In this embodiment, only video endoscopes
that view in directions away from the axis of the shaft of the
instrument are possible. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,294
by Schick et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,309 by Ooshima et al.
[0007] An improved video endoscope system would be one that removes
the need for external equipment such as light sources and the
associated connection cables, while still allowing the video
endoscope to view axially relative to the shaft of the instrument.
A further advantage of an improved video endoscope system would be
one that had an entirely wireless design enabled by operation from
battery power supplies and video data communications via modulated
electromagnetic energy or modulated visible or invisible light.
Such a system would have no need for support equipment within the
footprint of the operative area except for the compatible video
data receiver and a display monitor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention advantageously avoids the
aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a novel
light source arrangement in combination with a light guide and
camera located, in one embodiment, at the distal end of the
endoscope that results in a conveniently packaged video scope for
use in medical surgical procedures.
[0009] In one aspect of the invention, the light source is a class
of LED devices constructed of high-efficiency LEDs that emit
narrow-band blue light coupled with phosphors, which cause a nearly
natural "white" light to be emitted. The LEDs are coupled to a
waveguide for transmission of the light to the distal end of the
endoscope.
[0010] In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a camera/light
unit attaches to the proximal end of the endoscope and provides for
an LED light source to be communicated to the endoscope.
[0011] The present invention has, without limitation, application
in conventional endoscopic and open surgical instrumentation as
well as application in robotic-assisted surgery.
[0012] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following more detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The novel features of the invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however, both as to organization and methods of operation, together
with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood
by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an video endoscopic system
configured as a rigid laparoscope;
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the present invention
endoscope;
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a cut-away view of the end-effector and the
distal end of the tubular portion of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a cross section view of one embodiment of the
light guide;
[0018] FIGS. 5A-B show two alternate embodiments of the lighting
system that is integrated inside the tubular portion of the video
endoscope;
[0019] FIG. 5C is an alternate embodiment of the light guide and
light source integrated within the end-effector and tubular portion
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a cut-away view of the body and the proximal
end of the tubular portion of the present invention endoscope;
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention
video endoscope;
[0022] FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the camera/light unit
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;
[0023] FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of
the present invention video endoscope;
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of the camera unit of
FIG. 9; and
[0025] FIGS. 11 and 12 show cross sectional views of alternate
embodiments of the light unit shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Before explaining the present invention in detail, it should
be noted that the invention is not limited in its application or
use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and description. The
illustrative embodiments of the invention may be implemented or
incorporated in other embodiments, variations and modifications,
and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore,
unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed
herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the
illustrative embodiments of the present invention for the
convenience of the reader and are not for the purpose of limiting
the invention. Further, it is understood that any one or more of
the following-described embodiments, expressions of embodiments,
examples, methods, etc. can be combined with any one or more of the
other following-described embodiments, expressions of embodiments,
examples, methods, etc.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a video endoscopic system
10 configured as a rigid laparoscope. This system 10 includes an
endoscope 20, a monitor 22 and a connector cable 24 between the
two. The endoscope 20 has both lighting and imaging capabilities
incorporated into it. The system will illuminate the operative
field and generate a video image stream that can be transferred
from the video endoscope 20 by the connector cable 24 and viewed on
the monitor 22 by the user.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the endoscope 20. The endoscope
20 comprises an end-effector 26, a tubular portion 28 and a body
30. The connector cable 24 is connected to the body 30 of the
endoscope 20. For a rigid laparoscope, the end-effector 26 and
tubular portion 28 is designed so that it will fit through a
standard entry port, such as a trocar, for laparoscopic
surgery.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 3 the end-effector 26 comprises a
light guide 40, a camera 42 and a camera connector 44. The camera
42 is positioned concentric to the light guide 40 and is connected
to the body 30 by the camera connector 44. Non-symmetric
configurations are also possible. The camera connector 44 supplies
power to the camera 42 and transfers the image generated by the
camera 42 proximally to the body 30. A light source 50 is
integrated within the tubular portion 28, but could be integrated
anywhere within the video endoscope 20. The light source 50 is a
white light source that is compatible to the camera 42 for optimal
picture quality. In the preferred embodiment the white light source
is white light LEDs that are constructed from blue light LED
elements packaged with a phosphorus coating. When these blue LEDs
emit their blue light onto the phosphorus coating, the coating
emits light in the full white light spectrum. An alternative light
source is tungsten style gas filled bulbs.
[0030] The light source 50 is mounted on a light source mounting
board 52 that is optimally positioned within the tubular portion
and puts it at an optimal position to couple light into the light
guide 40. The light guide 40 is designed to concentrate the light
generated by the light source 50 and allow it to pass around the
camera and out of the distal end of the video endoscope 20. The
light source power cable 54 supplies power from the power source
(not shown) to the light source 50 and is connected to it by the
light source mounting board 52.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the light guide 40. In a
preferred embodiment the light guide 40 is constructed in one piece
of a molded plastic such as polycarbonate. In alternative
embodiments however, the light guide could be constructed of a
variety of translucent materials such as glass or it could be made
in a plurality of radial segments that ran along the axis of the
device such as optical fibers. The light guide 40 comprises a
concentrating portion 60 and a transmission portion 62. The
concentrating portion 60 is further comprised of a reflecting angle
.theta.. The reflecting angle .theta. is designed to be under the
critical angle of the material that the light guide 40. Snell's Law
dictates that any light that strikes an interface between two
materials shall be totally internally reflected if it strikes the
interface at an angle greater than the critical angle. This
critical angle is calculated based on the difference in indexes of
refraction between the two materials. For a typical plastic/air
interface the critical angle is approximately 46-49 degrees. For
the preferred embodiment with a single molded polycarbonate light
guide a preferred angle would be approximately 50-60 degrees for
optimal performance. It is known in the art that applying a
cladding to the surface of the light guide could greatly improve
the efficiency of the transmission of light by creating a
plastic/cladding interface that has a significantly smaller
critical angle than with the plastic/air interface. Optical fibers
use this theory by adding doping chemicals to the plastic to create
the cladding layer. This total internal reflection will cause the
light to be gradually concentrated and passed onto the transmission
portion 62 with minimal losses. The transmission portion 62 is
designed so as to be of limited cross sectional area to minimize
its profile without generating losses in the light that is
transmitted through it. An alternative light guide could be as
described above (with or without cladding) with the addition of
chemical elements in a controlled manner to the external surfaces
that create a gradient in the index of refraction to reduce optical
loss through the plastic/air interface at all points.
[0032] FIGS. 5A-B show two alternate embodiments of the lighting
system that is integrated inside the tubular portion 28. In FIG. 5A
the light source 64 is a single package that contains multiple
light source elements. In FIG. 5B the light source 66 is a
plurality of packages that each contain a single light source
element. The light source in FIG. 5B could be standard LED
packages, such as a T1 LED package, that are grouped together at
maximum density. FIG. 5A shows an improved LED packaging scheme
whereby multiple blue LED elements and connected in a circuit and
packaged within one housing that has phosphorus coating on it. This
embodiment allows for a higher density of LED elements in the same
space than can be achieved through utilization of the off the shelf
designs. This would greatly enhance the illumination power of the
light source 50 and allows the video endoscope 20 to view images at
a greater distance or with increased image quality. In FIG. 5C, the
phosphorus coating 51 is removed from the light source 50 and is
placed at the distal portion of the transmission portion 62 with an
additional plastic interface 63 at the most distal point to isolate
the phosphorous coating from the external environment.
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a cross section view of the body 30 and the
proximal end of the tubular portion 28. The proximal end of the
tubular portion 28 is connected to the distal portion of the body
30. The body further comprises a power source 70 and a control
switch 72 located on the outside of the body and is accessible by
the user. The power source 70 can be any version of a wireless
power supply that is known in the art, such as a battery. The
camera connector 44 and light source connector cable 54 passes from
the camera 42 and light source 50, respectively, at the distal end,
through the tubular portion 28 and into the body 30. As the camera
connector 44 passes into the body 30 it divides into two different
leads, the camera source power cable 44b and the video signal and
control cable 44a. The camera and light source power cable 44b and
54 attach to the control switch 72 and the signal cable 44a passes
through the body and exits on the proximal end. As it exits the
proximal end of the body it becomes the connector cable. The user
manipulates the control switch 72 so that the power delivered to
the light source is varied, thereby controlling illumination level.
When the light source 50 is off, power is removed from the camera
42 in the end effector. The signal cable 44a carries the image
signal from the camera 42 to the monitor 22 via connector cable
24.
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of a video endoscope system
120. The endoscope system 120 comprises an endoscope 121 light
cable 130 and a camera/light unit 140. The camera/light unit 140
attaches to the proximal end of the endoscope 121. The light cable
130 attaches to the camera/light unit 140 at its proximal end,
while its distal end attaches to the light source port of the
endoscope 121. The camera/light unit 140 contains the imaging
system, light system and signal transmission means for the
endoscope 121. In the preferred embodiment, the signal transmission
means could be a RF transmitter such as the 1.4 GHz transmitters
used with wireless security cameras. The transmission means could
alternatively be one of several methods of transmission protocols
that are known to those skilled in the art, such as the Bluetooth
system.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 8, the camera/light unit 140 comprises
an endoscope adapter 142, camera, 144 signal transmission means
146, power source 148, control switch 150, white light source 152
and focusing lens 154. These are all contained within the body of
the camera/light unit 140. The endoscope adapter 142 is designed in
such a way as to be operatively connected to the endoscope 121 to
couple its optics into the camera. The camera 144 receives the
image from the optics of the endoscope 121 and convert it into a
video signal. The signal transmission means 146 is operatively
connected to the camera 144 in order to take its video signal and
transmit it to a remote receiver. Though this is shown in FIG. 8 as
a wireless connection, it is obvious that it could be a hard-wired
connection. The power source 148 supplies power to the white light
source 152 and the camera unit 144 through its connection that
passes through the control switch 150. The focusing lens 154
gathers the light generated by the white light source 152 and
concentrates it to a smaller cross sectional area so that it can be
efficiently coupled into the light cable 130 that connects to the
camera/light unit at this port. An alternative embodiment would be
constructed form a plurality of blue LED die covered by a
phosphorus coating and a plurality of focusing lens elements
approximated to the light cable attachment.
[0036] FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of a
video endoscope system 220, which comprises an endoscope 221, a
camera unit 222, a light unit 224 and a power cord 226. The power
cord 226 connects the camera unit 222 to the light unit 224 and
passes power to the light unit 224. The camera unit 222 connects to
the endoscope 221 at its proximal end and couples into the optics
there, while the light unit 224 couples into the light port of the
endoscope 221.
[0037] FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of the camera unit 222.
The camera unit further comprises a power source 230, an imaging
chip 232, a transmission circuit 234, a signal transmission means
238 and a body 236. The imaging chip 232 is placed so that the
image carried through the optics of the endoscope 221 is focused
onto the imaging chip 232. The imaging chip 232 comprises three
major components; the image array, the timing and control circuits
and the video processing circuits. The image array is composed of
individual pixels that convert the intensity of light shown on it
into electrical signals and in some models converts this electrical
signal into a digital signal. The video processing circuit reads
these signals and formats it into a signal that is readable by the
display, such as an NTSC or PAL signal. It is known to those
skilled in the art that each of these three functions can be
separated into different locations and chips. The image array can
be constructed from either a CMOS or a CCD technology. If the image
array is based on the CMOS technology then all three processes can
be included into a single chip design. An example of a single chip
design would be the Omnivision OV7910. This chip has two wires for
power input and two for an NTSC signal output. The power supply 230
is connected to the imaging chip 232, the transmission circuit 234
and the power cord. The imaging chip 232 is connected to the
transmission circuit 234 so that the signal created by the imaging
chip 232 is passed to it. The transmission circuit 234 is
operatively connected to the signal transmission means 238 so that
the signal is transmitted to a remote display system 22. Although
the signal transmission means in FIG. 10 is shown as a wireless
connection, it is obvious that this connection could also be a
hard-wired one.
[0038] FIGS. 11 and 12 show cross sectional views of alternate
embodiments of the light unit 224. Each embodiment comprises a
light unit body 240a, b, a white light source 244a, b, a collimator
246a, b, and a circuit board 248a, b. The top of the light unit
body is designed in such a way as to be operatively connected to
the light port of the endoscope 221. Inside the light unit body,
the white light source 244a, b is connected to the circuit board
248a, b. The circuit boards are connected to the power cord 250 and
delivers power from the power supply to the white light source
244a, b. In FIG. 11 the white light source 244a is arranged in a
planar fashion and the collimator 246a is designed to concentrate
and collimate the light generated by the white light source into
the light port of the endoscope 221. In FIG. 12 the white light
source 244b is arranged in an arc so that its light is focused on a
collimator lens system 246b. In this embodiment the collimator is a
lens that will concentrate and collimate the light into the light
port of the endoscope 221.
[0039] The foregoing description of several expressions of
embodiments and methods of the invention has been presented for
purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to
limit the invention to the precise forms and procedures disclosed,
and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in
light of the above teaching. For example, as would be apparent to
those skilled in the art, the disclosures herein of the ultrasonic
systems and methods have equal application in robotic assisted
surgery taking into account the obvious modifications of the
invention to be compatible with such a robotic system. It is
intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *