U.S. patent application number 13/991981 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for portable laparoscope system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dennis Alexander, Chandrakanth Are, Madhuri Are. Invention is credited to Dennis Alexander, Chandrakanth Are, Madhuri Are.
Application Number | 20130253368 13/991981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46207743 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130253368 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Are; Chandrakanth ; et
al. |
September 26, 2013 |
PORTABLE LAPAROSCOPE SYSTEM
Abstract
A portable laparoscope is disclosed. In implementations, the
portable laparoscope includes a housing and an elongated tube
coupled to the housing. A lighting source and a camera are disposed
proximate to an end of the elongated tube opposite the housing. The
camera is configured to capture an image in a viewing area that is
illuminated by light provided by the lighting source. The portable
laparoscope includes an image display apparatus configured to
display the images acquired by the camera and/or to transmit the
images to a remote display device. The housing may be configured to
hold and position an insufflator.
Inventors: |
Are; Chandrakanth; (Omaha,
NE) ; Are; Madhuri; (Omaha, NE) ; Alexander;
Dennis; (Lincoln, NE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Are; Chandrakanth
Are; Madhuri
Alexander; Dennis |
Omaha
Omaha
Lincoln |
NE
NE
NE |
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
46207743 |
Appl. No.: |
13/991981 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 8, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/63948 |
371 Date: |
June 6, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61420901 |
Dec 8, 2010 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/560 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 1/3132 20130101;
A61B 1/00016 20130101; A61B 1/05 20130101; A61B 1/00052 20130101;
A61M 13/003 20130101; A61B 1/00108 20130101; A61B 1/00045 20130101;
A61B 1/00013 20130101; A61B 1/00183 20130101; A61B 1/0676
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/560 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/313 20060101
A61B001/313; A61B 1/00 20060101 A61B001/00; A61M 13/00 20060101
A61M013/00; A61B 1/05 20060101 A61B001/05; A61B 1/06 20060101
A61B001/06 |
Claims
1. A portable laparoscope system comprising: a housing; an
elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the second
end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing, the elongated
tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;
an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated
tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image
within a field of view of the image capture device; a light source
disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source
configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of
view of the image capture device; an insufflator configured to
provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated
tube is inserted; and an image display apparatus disposed of the
housing and coupled with the image capture device for at least one
of displaying or transmitting an image of a body cavity captured by
the image capture device.
2. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein
the image display apparatus comprises a transmitter communicatively
coupled to the image capture device, the transmitter being
configured to transmit the image to a receiver communicatively
coupled to an image display device.
3. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein
the image display apparatus comprises a display configured to
display the image.
4. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 2, wherein
the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless
network.
5. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 4, wherein
the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless
network conforming to 802.11 standards.
6. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 5, wherein
the wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission
network.
7. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to
the light source, the image capture device, the insufflator, and
the image display apparatus, the power source configured to provide
a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light source,
the image capture device, the insufflators, or the image display
apparatus.
8. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 7, wherein
the power source comprises a battery.
9. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, the
insufflator further comprising: a portable gas supply; a gas tube
for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and a gas
regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas
tube.
10. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein
the insufflator is disposed in the housing.
11. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, further
comprising: a memory interface disposed of the housing, the memory
interface configured to receive a removable memory element.
12. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein
the image display apparatus comprises a projection device.
13. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 3, wherein
the display comprises a liquid crystal display device.
14. The portable laparoscope system as recited in claim 1, wherein
the image display apparatus and the image capture device are
communicatively coupled via a wired configuration.
15. A portable laparoscope comprising: an elongated tube comprising
a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube
configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity; a
housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with
the second end of the elongated tube; an image capture device
disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture
device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the
image capture device; a light source disposed at the first end of
the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light
proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture
device; an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a
body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; a display
disposed of the housing and coupled with the image capture device
for displaying an image of a body cavity captured by the image
capture device; and a power source disposed in the housing and
coupled to the light source, the image capture device, the
insufflator, and the display, the power source configured to
provide a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light
source, the image capture device, the insufflators, and the
display.
16. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 15, wherein the
display comprises a liquid crystal display device.
17. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 15, wherein the
insufflator further comprises: a portable gas supply; a gas tube
for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and a gas
regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas
tube.
18. A portable laparoscope comprising: an elongated tube comprising
a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube
configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity; a
housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with
the second end of the elongated tube; an image capture device
disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture
device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the
image capture device; a light source disposed at the first end of
the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light
proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture
device; an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a
body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; and a
transmitter disposed of the housing and communicatively coupled
with the image capture device for transmitting an image of a body
cavity captured by the image capture device to a receiver coupled
to an image display device.
19. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 18, wherein the
transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless
network.
20. The portable laparoscope as recited in claim 18, wherein the
wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission
network.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Medical professionals employ laparoscopes to perform
minimally invasive surgery on a patient's abdominal cavity for
diagnostic and treatment purposes. Generally, laparoscopes comprise
an instrument configured to pass through a small incision (e.g., in
the abdominal wall) and capture images (e.g., video) of areas
within a patient. The captured images are normally displayed by
large monitors that are positioned proximate to the laparoscopic
procedure area (e.g., suspended from the ceiling of the operating
room around the operating table). During use, laparoscopes require
a myriad of associated equipment, such as power sources,
insufflators and so on, which are coupled to the laparoscope via a
wiring/tube harness, and so forth. Consequently, laparoscopes are
confined to use in dedicated surgical environments, such as a
laparoscopic operating room in a hospital.
SUMMARY
[0002] A portable laparoscope is disclosed. The portable
laparoscope is capable of providing laparoscopic imaging
functionality to medical personnel in unconventional environments
(e.g., environments other than a dedicated laparoscopic operating
room, including environments such as but not necessarily limited
to: rural areas, combat zones, and so on). In implementations, the
portable laparoscope includes a housing and an elongated tube
coupled to the housing. A lighting source and an image capture
device are disposed proximate to an end of the elongated tube
opposite the housing. The image capture device is configured to
capture an image in a viewing area that is illuminated by light
provided by the lighting source. The portable laparoscope includes
an image display apparatus configured to display the images
acquired by the image capture device and/or to transmit the images
to a remote display device. The portable laparoscope may be
configured to position and hold an insufflator.
[0003] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of
the claimed subject matter.
DRAWINGS
[0004] The Detailed Description is described with reference to the
accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in
different instances in the description and the figures may indicate
similar or identical items. It should be noted that the drawings
are not necessarily to scale.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example portable
laparoscope in accordance with example implementations of the
present disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope used in a non-dedicated surgical environment
in accordance with example implementations of the present
disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic isometric view of the portable
laparoscope illustrated in FIG. 2, where a light source and a
camera are disposed proximate to an end of an elongated tube of the
portable laparoscope.
[0008] FIG. 4A is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope configured with a flip screen display device
in accordance with example implementations of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope configured to employ a mobile device for
display of images in accordance with example implementations of the
present disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 4C is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope including a display device configured to
articulate to provide multiple viewing angles in accordance with
example implementations of the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 4D is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope including a fixed display device in accordance
with example implementations of the present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 4E is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a
portable laparoscope coupled with a detachable display device in
accordance with example implementations of the present
disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 4F is a partial diagrammatic isometric view
illustrating an end of an elongated tube of a portable laparoscope,
where a light source and a camera array is disposed at the end of
the elongated tube in accordance with example implementations of
the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 4G is a diagrammatic view illustrating a portable
laparoscope including a housing configured with a display device
and a handle to assist with operating the portable laparoscope in
accordance with example implementations of the present
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a portable
laparoscope as used in a surgical environment, where the portable
laparoscope includes a gas cartridge, a trocar-hookup, and a trocar
in accordance with example implementations of the present
disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of the portable
laparoscope illustrated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Overview
[0018] Laparoscopes are generally used to perform minimally
invasive surgeries. Laparoscopes employ a variety of detached
equipment such as power sources, insufflators, monitors, and so on,
which are coupled to the laparoscope via a wiring/tube harness, or
the like. For example, laparoscopic equipment is generally
connected to a bank of large display screens arranged within a
dedicated operating room in order to provide a physician with as
large and as detailed a view of a patient's internal organs as
possible. Consequently, laparoscopes are very expensive, cumbersome
and time consuming to set-up. Thus, laparoscopes have been confined
to use in dedicated surgical environments such as a laparoscopic
operating room in a hospital, surgical center, or the like.
[0019] In many instances, access to a dedicated surgical
environment can be difficult or even impossible, especially when
multiple patients must be evaluated and/or treated in a short span
of time, such as during a mass casualty event. For example, in the
case of an individual who has been subjected to multiple traumatic
injuries, there may be a high risk of internal bleeding. Instant
triage evaluation of this type of polytrauma patient in the
emergency room itself may be difficult, compounded by the fact that
diagnosing internal bleeding is very time sensitive in order to
provide effective intervention. Although a technique such as
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) can provide
some information, it lacks the ability to fully visualize internal
organs in an ambulatory setting, which can help significantly in
triaging patients. Further, in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU),
diagnosing the onset of internal bleeding or other internal
maladies is often complicated because polytraumatic patients are
difficult to move or immobile. Thus, in both triage and ICU
settings, imaging devices such as Computed Tomography (CT) devices
or Magnetic Resonance Imagining (MRI) devices are not feasible
solutions, especially when patients are hemodynamically stable and
cannot be moved and such equipment is unavailable. With abdominal
trauma, the use of CT with contrast may be preferred. As discussed,
neither a triage nor an ICU setting lends itself to CT scanning due
to a critical condition of patients, lack of patient mobility,
and/or time constraints.
[0020] Accordingly, a portable laparoscope is disclosed. In one or
more implementations, the portable laparoscope includes a housing
and an elongated tube coupled to the housing. The portable
laparoscope can be configured to support an insufflator. A lighting
source and an image capture device (e.g., a camera) are disposed
proximate to an end of the elongated tube opposite the housing. The
camera is configured to capture an image in a viewing area that is
illuminated by light provided by the lighting source. The portable
laparoscope includes an image display apparatus configured to
display the images acquired by the camera and/or to transmit the
images to a remote display device. In one example, the image
display apparatus may comprise a display such as a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) for displaying captured images and/or captured video
of a patient's internals, such as an abdominal cavity, and so
forth. In another example, the image display apparatus includes a
transmitter disposed in the housing that is configured to transmit
images and/or video captured by the camera to a receiver. The
receiver is configured to receive the images and/or video for
display by a display device communicatively coupled to the
receiver.
[0021] The portable laparoscope is capable of providing
laparoscopic imaging functionality to medical personnel in
unconventional environments (e.g., environments other than a
dedicated laparoscopic operating room). Thus, the portable
laparoscope may be configured to be used in a variety of
environments. For example, the portable laparoscope may be used in
remote areas, such as, but not necessarily limited to: military
field hospitals or rural areas, in a hospital environment outside
of the operating room, or in areas where sophisticated and
expensive medical equipment is generally not available. Further,
the portable laparoscope may be used in applications other than
surgical intervention, such as for surgical evaluation outside of
an operating room.
[0022] The portable laparoscope may be used for determining the
presence and/or extent of abdominal trauma. This information can
then be used to determine an appropriate course of action in
treatment, making conservative management of abdominal injury
possible by providing information more accurate than that provided
by a CT scan. Further, because portable laparoscopy can provide
direct visualization of an abdominal cavity, resolution may not
significantly influence diagnostic fidelity. However, using a
portable laparoscope for abdominal trauma is provided by way of
example only and is not meant to be restrictive of the present
disclosure. Thus, a portable laparoscope can also be used for
ischemic bowel, which may otherwise be difficult to diagnose, and
often frustrates radiographic evaluation. Portable laparoscopy at a
bedside in the ICU may dramatically ease diagnosis of ischemic
bowel with much higher fidelity. In addition to the triage bay and
ICU, portable laparoscopy may also be performed in multiple
locations outside of the operating room. For example, most medical
clinics have a clean space to perform procedures such as lumbar
puncture or colonoscopy. Such rooms may also be utilized for
laparoscopic evaluation using a portable laparoscope in accordance
with the present disclosure. In the following discussion, an
example portable laparoscope is described.
[0023] Example Environment
[0024] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "connected," "coupled," "operatively coupled," and/or
"communicatively coupled" to another element, it can be directly
connected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements
may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as
being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another
element, there are no intervening elements present. Additionally,
like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Reference will now
be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is
illustrated in the accompanying figures.
[0025] FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate an example portable laparoscope
100. As shown, the portable laparoscope 100 includes a housing 102
and an elongated tube 104 coupled to the housing 102. The housing
can be configured to support an insufflator 106. A light source 108
and a camera 110 are disposed proximate to a first end 112 of the
elongated tube 104 coupled to the housing 102. The housing 102 is
also configured to hold image display apparatus 114, that can be
configured to display the images acquired by the camera 110 and/or
transmit the images to a remote display device. A power source 116
may also be disposed in the housing 102 to provide sufficient
operational power to the electronic devices disposed in the
portable laparoscope 100 (e.g., light source 108, camera 110, image
display apparatus 114, etc.). The housing 102 may be fabricated of
a medical grade material such as titanium. However, titanium is
provided by way of example only, and is not meant to be restrictive
of the disclosure. Thus, other materials medical grade materials
may be used to construct the housing 102, the elongated tube 104,
and so forth.
[0026] The elongated tube 104 may be configured in a variety of
ways. As shown, the elongated tube 104 includes a first end 112 and
a second end 118. The first end 112 is defined by the end of the
elongated tube 104 distal from the housing 102. In implementations,
a light source 108 and a camera 110 are disposed of the elongated
tube 104 proximate to the first end 112. In some implementations,
the light source 108 and/or the camera 110 can be disposed of the
elongated tube 104 proximate to the second end 118. In this type of
configuration, lenses, fiber optic cables, and the like can be used
to direct light to and from the light source 108 and/or the camera
110 along the length of the elongated tube 104. The light source
108 and/or the camera 110 can also be positioned within the housing
102. A window formed of generally transparent material is disposed
at the first end 112 to provide a protective cover for the light
source 108 and the camera 110 and other equipment within the
elongated tube 104. In embodiments, the generally transparent
material may be comprised of quartz, or the like.
[0027] The second end 118 of the elongated tube 104 is coupled to
the housing 102 using, for example, a threaded fitting. The fitting
can be used to provide articulation between the housing 102 and the
elongated tube 104. For example, the fitting can be implemented as
a joint. The second end 118 may also be welded to or fastened to
the threaded fitting. In an implementation, the elongated tube 104
may comprise an approximately fourteen inch (14'') (355.6
millimeters) long tube that is ten millimeters (10 mm) (0.39
inches) in diameter. The elongated tube 104 may also be comprised
of a rigid material (e.g., titanium), a flexible material (e.g.,
medical nylon), or other medical grade materials. In some
implementations, the elongated tube 104 can be configured to extend
and retract. For example, the elongated tube 104 can be configured
to telescope, and/or to retract into the housing 102.
[0028] The insufflator 106 may be used to supply a gas (e.g.,
CO.sub.2) to the abdominal cavity to lift abdominal integument from
the internal organs proximate to the first end 112 of the elongated
tube 104. The insufflator 106 may be implemented in a variety of
ways. For example, the insufflator may comprise a cartridge-based
insufflator, a gas cylinder-based insufflator, an infusion
balloon-based insufflator, or other medically suitable portable
insufflators. The insufflator 106 can be disposed or housed within
the housing 102.
[0029] The light source 108 may assume a variety of configurations.
For example, the light source 108 may be comprised of a light
emitting diode (LED), a laser diode, quantum dots, multiple light
emitting diodes, multiple laser diodes, or the like. In an
implementation, the light source 108 is disposed at the first end
112 proximate to a camera 110, and the power source 116 is coupled
(e.g., wired configuration, etc.) to the light source 108 to
provide sufficient operational power to the light source 108. When
the portable laparoscope 100 is in use, the light source 108 is
configured to emit a light to illuminate an area within a field of
view of the camera 110.
[0030] The camera 110 may be configured in a variety of ways. The
camera 110 may, for example, be comprised of: a pin hole camera, a
charge coupled device (CCD) camera, a fiber optic coupled camera, a
video camera, and so forth. The camera 110 is configured to capture
an image in the camera's field of view. The camera 110 is disposed
proximate to the first end 112 and coupled to the power source 116.
In an implementation, the camera 110 may be part of a group of
multiple cameras 110 disposed proximate to the first end 112 and
coupled to the power source 116. As illustrated in FIG. 4F,
multiple cameras 110 can be disposed at different locations of the
first end 112 to capture multiple images from different angles. The
multiple cameras 110 may also be arranged in such a configuration
that provides a stereoscopic view of the captured images when
displayed.
[0031] The camera 110 is configured to communicate with image
display apparatus 114. For example, one or more cameras 110 may be
communicatively coupled to an electronic device (e.g. a display
122, etc.) via a wired configuration, a fiber optic communication,
a transmitter/receiver link, or the like. In an implementation, the
camera 110 is configured to transfer the captured image data to an
image display apparatus 122 disposed of the housing 102.
[0032] The image display apparatus 114 may assume a wide variety of
configurations, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4E. The image
display apparatus 114 is configured to display images captured by
cameras 110 and/or to transmit the images to a remote display
device. For example, the image display apparatus 114 may include,
but is not necessarily limited to: a transmitter 120 configured to
transmit captured images; a display 122, such as a liquid crystal
display (LCD) device or a projection device; and so forth. The
camera 110 and the image display apparatus 114 are communicatively
coupled together via a wired configuration, a wireless
configuration, a fiber optic configuration, or the like.
[0033] In an implementation, the image display apparatus 114 may be
configured as a display 122 disposed of (e.g., housed within) the
housing 102. For example, the display 122 may be a flip-screen
display device, as illustrated in FIG. 4A. As shown, the
flip-screen display device may be configured to pivot from a
substantially folded position for transportation and storage to a
substantially upright position for viewing purposes. In another
example, the display 122 may be coupled to the elongated tube 104
(shown in FIGS. 4C, 4D, and 4G). For instance, the housing 102 may
include an aperture to allow viewing of the display portion of the
display 122. It is contemplated that the display 122 may be a
display device of varying dimensions. For example, the display 122
may be comprised of an approximately 2.5 inch (6.35 centimeter)
diagonal LCD device, an approximately 5.8 inch (14.73 centimeters)
diagonal LCD device, and so forth. The display 122 may present the
captured image(s) as individual images for a predetermined amount
of time. The captured images may also be presented as a sequence of
images (e.g., video). In another implementation, the display 122
may comprise a projection device, such as a liquid crystal display
(LCD) projector, or the like. The housing 102 may be configured to
house the projection device. In an implementation, the projection
device is configured to project images as a virtual screen to a
viewing area. The viewing area may include, but is not necessarily
limited to: a projection screen, a wall, or another projection
viewing medium.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image display apparatus 114
may comprise a transmitter 120. The transmitter 120 may be
configured in a variety of ways. For example, the transmitter 120
may be a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transmit
one or more images captured by camera 110 via a RF network (e.g.,
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.). In another example, the transmitter 120
may comprise a laser diode configured to transmit one or more
image(s) via a free-space optical network. The transmitter 120 may
be housed within the housing 102 and coupled to power source
116.
[0035] The transmitter 120 can be configured to transmit one or
more captured image(s) to a remote display device. The remote
display device may be configured in a variety of ways. In an
implementation, the remote display device may be comprised of an
image display device 124. The image display device 124 may be a
monitor (e.g., LCD device, High Definition (HD) display device,
etc.) communicatively coupled (e.g., wired configuration, wireless
configuration, etc.) to a receiver 126. A receiver 126 is
configured to receive the one or more image(s) transmitted by the
transmitter 120 and to provide the one or more image(s) to the
image display device 124. The receiver 126 may be implemented in a
number of ways. For example, the receiver 126 may be a RF receiver
configured to receive images from a RF transmitter. In another
example, the receiver 126 may be an avalanche photodiode configured
to receive images from a laser diode.
[0036] In an implementation, the receiver 126 is configured to
receive the image(s) transmitted by the transmitter 120 and to
furnish the images to the image display device 124 via a wired
configuration. For example, the receiver 126 and image display
device 124 may be located in a separate area (e.g., building, room,
etc.) from the transmitter 120 and portable laparoscope 100.
[0037] It is contemplated that a mobile device 128 may be used to
view the image(s) furnished by camera 110. In an implementation,
mobile device 128 may be coupled to elongated tube 104 via a wired
configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4B. In another implementation,
the transmitter 120 may be configured to transmit the captured
image(s) to a detachable mobile device 128 via a network 130 as
illustrated in FIG. 4E. The mobile device 128 may be configured in
a variety of ways. For instance, the mobile device 128 may be
configured as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computing
device, and so forth. The mobile device 128 may include a display
132. In an implementation, the display 132 may be integral with the
mobile device 128. In another implementation, the display 132 may
be coupled to the mobile device 128 via a wired configuration. For
example, the transmitter 120 may transmit the captured image(s) to
a mobile phone 128 via the network 130. The mobile phone 128
furnishes the captured image(s) to the display 132 for display. In
another example, the transmitter 120 may transmit the captured
image(s) to a laptop computer 128 via the network 130. The laptop
128 furnishes the captured image(s) to the display 132 for
display.
[0038] The network 130 is representative of a variety of different
communication pathways and network connections that may be
employed, individually or in combinations, to communicate among the
components of the portable laparoscope 100. Further, network 130 is
representative of a variety of different types of networks and
connections that are contemplated including, but not necessarily
limited to: the Internet; an intranet; a satellite network; a
cellular network; a mobile data network; wired and/or wireless
connections; and so forth.
[0039] Examples of wireless networks include, but are not
necessarily limited to: a free-space optical transmission network,
a wireless LED network, as well as networks configured for
communications according to: one or more standard of the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), such as 802.11 or
802.16 (Wi-Max) standards; Wi-Fi standards promulgated by the Wi-Fi
Alliance; Bluetooth standards promulgated by the Bluetooth Special
Interest Group; and so on. Wired communications are also
contemplated such as through universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet,
serial connections, and so forth. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
portable laparoscope 100 includes a power source 116. In an
implementation, the power source 116 may comprise a battery that is
configured to provide sufficient operational power to the various
electronic components associated with or coupled to the portable
laparoscope 100. For instance, in an implementation, the battery
provides sufficient operational power to operate the image display
apparatus 114, the insufflator 106, the camera 110, and the light
source 108. It is contemplated that sufficient operational power
may be defined as each electronic device powered by the battery
receiving enough power to be fully operational according to the
specifications of each device for a definite amount of time.
[0040] In FIG. 1, the laparoscope 100 is depicted as including a
processor 134 and a memory 136. The processor 134 provides
processing functionality for the portable laparoscope 100 and may
include any number of processors, micro-controllers, or other
processing systems and resident or external memory for storing data
and other information accessed or generated by portable laparoscope
100. The processor 134 is configured to execute one or more
software program(s). The processor 134 is not limited by the
materials from which it is formed or the processing mechanisms
employed therein and, as such, may be implemented via
semiconductor(s) and/or transistors (e.g., electronic Integrated
Circuits (ICs)), and so forth.
[0041] The memory 136 is an example of tangible computer-readable
media that provides storage functionality to store various data
associated with the operation of the portable laparoscope 100, such
as the software program and code segments mentioned above, or other
data to instruct the processor 134 and other elements of the
portable laparoscope 100 to perform the steps described herein.
Although a single memory 136 is shown, a wide variety of types and
combinations of memory may be employed. The memory 136 may be
integral with the processor 134, stand-alone memory, or a
combination of both. The memory may include, for example, removable
and non-removable memory elements such as Random Access Memory
(RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory (e.g., an SD Card, a
mini-SD card, a micro-SD Card), magnetic memory, optical memory,
USB memory devices, and so forth.
[0042] As depicted in FIG. 1, the housing 102 includes a memory
interface 138. The memory interface 138 provides removable storage
functionality to portable laparoscope 100. For instance, the memory
interface 138 is configured to detect when a removable memory
element has been positioned or inserted into memory interface 138.
The memory interface 138 is configured to receive the image(s)
and/or the video from the camera 110 and furnish the image(s)
and/or the video to the removable memory element for storage. The
image(s) may be transferred via a protocol implemented in software,
hardware, and/or firmware. The removable memory elements may
include, but are not necessarily limited to: SD Cards, mini-SD
cards, micro-SD Cards, USB drives, or the like. In this
configuration, processor 134 may be housed in the housing 102 as a
standalone processor, a processor integral with the camera 110, or
a processor integral with the memory interface 138. The processor
134 may provide processing functionality to the portable
laparoscope 100, the camera 110, and/or the memory interface
138.
[0043] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate example implementations of portable
laparoscopes in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 2
depicts a portable laparoscope 100 used in a non-dedicated surgical
environment. For instance, medical personnel (not shown) may use
laparoscope 100 to perform a laparoscopic procedure on a patient.
Medical personnel may insert end 112 through an incision made in
patient. As shown in FIG. 3, end 112 includes light source 108 and
camera 110. As described above, the light source will provide
illumination to the area within the camera's 110 field of view. The
camera 110 furnishes one or more image(s) to the image display
apparatus 114 (depicted as display 122 in FIGS. 2 and 3) for
medical personnel to view. In another implementation, as
illustrated in FIG. 4C, portable laparoscope 100 may be manipulated
by medical personnel to provide further camera 110 views and so
forth. Moreover, portable laparoscope 100 may implemented with
ergonomic designs. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 4G, a
handle 142 may be coupled to display 122.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the insufflator 106
comprises a portable gas supply 144 coupled to a gas tube 140. The
portable gas supply 144 may comprise a portable gas cartridge, a
portable gas tank, or the like. A gas regulator 146 is disposed
between the portable gas supply 144 and the gas tube 140. The gas
regulator 146 is configured to interface with the portable gas
supply 144 and to regulate the gas flow released into the gas tube
140 from the portable gas supply 144. In an implementation, the gas
regulator 146 may be comprised of a high pressure gas regulator or
the like. For example, a high pressure gas regulator may include a
FISHERBRAND Multistage Cylinder Regulator, or the like. In an
implementation, the gas regulator 146 may be configured to reduce
the flow rate of the gas to low variable pressures. In a further
implementation, the gas regulator 146 may be coupled, or connected,
to a flow meter (not shown) to monitor the flow rate of the
insufflator 106. The flow meter may comprise a Smith Flowmeter
Regulator, or the like. In one implementation, the gas tube 140 may
be disposed, or housed, within the elongated tube 104. In another
implementation, the gas tube 140 may be a standalone gas tube
140.
[0045] In an implementation, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
laparoscope 100 may also include a trocar hook-up 148 and a trocar
150. The trocar hook-up 148 provides an interface with the gas tube
140 proximate to the first end 112 of the elongated tube 104. The
trocar 150 is configured to make an incision in a patient and is
also coupled proximate to the elongated tube 104 and the trocar
hook-up 148. Once an incision has been created, the first end 112
of the elongated tube 104 may then be inserted through the incision
to allow the camera 110 to provide imagery of the body cavity. It
is contemplated that the trocar 150 may be any trocar known in the
art and may be interchangeable with other types of trocars. In a
further implementation, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the light source
108 and the camera 110 may be disposed proximate to the trocar 150.
For instance, the trocar 150 may include the light source 108 and
the camera 110 and provide illumination functionality and image
capture functionality once the trocar 150 has been inserted through
the incision in the patient.
[0046] Conclusion
[0047] Although the subject matter has been described in language
specific to structural features and/or process operations, it is to
be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended
claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts
described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described
above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the
claims.
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