An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. At least a portion of the insertion shaft is flexible or articulated. Controls on the handle permit control of flex or articulation of the insertion shaft to permit direction of illumination and field of view of the imaging circuitry. Control force transfer elements permit a surgeon to direct a direction of the imaging circuitry by transfer of mechanical force directed by a surgeon to the bendable distal portion to cause the bendable portion to bend under the surgeon's control.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
2.
ENDOCOPE WITH DISPOSABLE CAMERA SHAFT AND REUSABLE HANDLE
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
An endoscope with voice control. A data processor for the endoscope obtains voice training data for a specific surgeon, and/or information indicating spoken utterances associated with a surgical procedure for which the endoscope is to be used. Voice utterances signals are received from a surgeon during the surgery. Speech recognition technology decodes the voice utterance signals into commands to control the endoscope, based at least in part on the data obtained from the database, and control commands are issued to implement the decoded voice utterances. Concurrently with the accepting and decoding of voice utterances, the processor accepts and decodes control signals from at least one other input device. The processor issues control commands to components of the endoscope to implement the decoded other input control signals. The voice utterances are accepted, decoded, and executed concurrently with the other input control signals.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
An endoscope's solid-state camera and illumination emitter are mounted on opposite sides of a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is mounted at the distal end of the insertion shaft by engaging in a slot in a chassis. The chassis is formed as two subcomponents designed to mate 5 together. The slot is formed as two opposing sub-slots each formed into the two subcomponents. The sub-slots are designed to capture the flexible circuit board during assembly, and to bend the flexible circuit board into a desired shape as the two chassis subcomponents are brought together. The camera is urged into a desired position by the resilience of the flexible circuit board as bent by the slot. The flexible circuit board has a retaining clip at its distal end. The retaining clip is clipped to hold the 0 camera and illumination emitter in desired relationship within the distal tip of the insertion shaft.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 50/30 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
An endoscope's solid-state camera and illumination emitter are mounted on opposite sides of a flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board is mounted at the distal end of the insertion shaft by engaging in a slot in a chassis. The chassis is formed as two subcomponents designed to mate together. The slot is formed as two opposing sub-slots each formed into the two subcomponents. The sub-slots are designed to capture the flexible circuit board during assembly, and to bend the flexible circuit board into a desired shape as the two chassis subcomponents are brought together. The camera is urged into a desired position by the resilience of the flexible circuit board as bent by the slot. The flexible circuit board has a retaining clip at its distal end. The retaining clip is clipped to hold the camera and illumination emitter in desired relationship within the distal tip of the insertion shaft.
G16H 40/40 - ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilitiesICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
6.
Information Management and Inventory Tracking for Medical Devices
During manufacture of a medical device, parameters if the device are measured, and results of that measurement are stored in a database. For example, parameters of an endoscope's image sensor may be measured and stored in the database. The medical device has a machine-readable serial number. A computer reads the serial number and records a reduction of an on-hand inventory of the medical devices. When the on-hand inventory warrants reordering to replenish the on-hand inventory. When warranted, the computer places an order with a supplier of medical devices of the class to replenish inventory. A computer controlling the medical device may read the database to obtain the measured properties. The obtained data may be used to calibrate or adjust the device's function. For example, white balance and color correction of an endoscope may be used to compute normalized video.
G16H 40/40 - ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilitiesICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
7.
Generating Ground Truth Annotated Dataset for Analysing Medical Images
A method for semi-automatically generating annotated dataset for machine learning implementation for segmenting lesions in medical images. The method comprises utilizing a trained segmentation model to generate a first segmentation mask for each of the one or more lesions in medical images; implementing a geometric filter to validate the generated first segmentation mask; updating the trained segmentation model with the validated first segmentation mask; implementing the updated segmentation model to generate a second segmentation mask for each of the one or more lesions in the medical images; providing a user interface to allow an operator to validate last generated segmentation mask; and selecting the medical images with the validated generated segmentation mask, to generate a ground truth annotated dataset.
During manufacture of a medical device, parameters if the device are measured, and results of that measurement are stored in a database. For example, parameters of an endoscope's image sensor may be measured and stored in the database. The medical device has a machine-readable serial number. A computer reads the serial number and records a reduction of an on-hand inventory of the medical devices. When the on-hand inventory warrants reordering to replenish the on-hand inventory. When warranted, the computer places an order with a supplier of medical devices of the class to replenish inventory. A computer controlling the medical device may read the database to obtain the measured properties. The obtained data may be used to calibrate or adjust the device's function. For example, white balance and color correction of an endoscope may be used to compute normalized video.
G16H 40/20 - ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilitiesICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
G16H 40/40 - ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilitiesICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
A61B 90/96 - Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags coded with symbols, e.g. text using barcodes
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
In an endoscope system, a processor is programmed to control the image sensor and/or illumination to underexpose or overexpose every other frame of the video image data. The image sensor generates image data at a frame rate. Successive pairs of frames of the image data are combined to recover dynamic range and detail in over-bright or over-dark portions of the image, and the combined frames have the full frame rate of the video as generated by the image sensor. A machine learning model processes the video to simultaneously upsample the image data to a resolution higher than that captured by the image sensor, to sharpen edges, and to enhance local contrast. A two-output PID control algorithm controls exposure intensity by controlling at least two of gain, exposure, and illumination to achieve image display at a setpoint intensity, maximum change per step of the PID control damped to prevent oscillation.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61M 1/00 - Suction or pumping devices for medical purposesDevices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body-liquidsDrainage systems
In an endoscope system, a processor is programmed to receive video image data from an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope and to display the image data to a surgeon in real time. The processor is programmed to process the image data received from the image sensor via a machine learning model, the machine learning model trained to simultaneously upsample the image data to a resolution higher than that captured by the image sensor, to sharpen edges, and to enhance local contrast. The video image data have a frame rate at which the image data are generated by the image sensor. The processor is programmed to control the image sensor and/or an illumination source designed to illuminate a scene viewed by the image sensor, the controlling programmed to underexpose or overexpose every other frame of the video image data. The processor is programmed to process the image data received from the image sensor to combine successive pairs of frames of the image data to adjust dynamic range to enhance over-bright or over-dark portions of the image to expose detail, and to generate combined frames at the full frame rate of the video as generated by the image sensor.
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/31 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
An arthroscope's insertion shaft has near its distal end a solid state camera. The shaft has an outer diameter of no more than 6 mm, and has rigidity and strength for insertion of the camera into joints for arthroscopic surgery. Light conductor(s) have a flattened region shaped to lie between an endoscope camera and an inner surface of an outer wall of an endoscope shaft. The flattened region is shaped to conduct illumination light though the space between the camera and inner surface of the other wall to a distal end of the endoscope shaft for illumination of a surgical cavity to be viewed by the camera. The flattened region is formed by heating a region of a plastic optical fiber, and squeezing the heated region in a polished mold.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
An arthroscope's insertion shaft has near its distal end a solid state camera. The shaft has an outer diameter of no more than 6mm, and has rigidity and strength for insertion of the camera into joints for arthroscopic surgery. Light conductor(s) have a flattened region shaped to lie between an endoscope camera and an inner surface of an outer wall of an endoscope shaft. The flattened region is shaped to conduct illumination light though the space between the camera and inner surface of the other wall to a distal end of the endoscope shaft for illumination of a surgical cavity to be viewed by the camera. The flattened region is formed by heating a region of a plastic optical fiber, and squeezing the heated region in a polished mold.
A61B 1/07 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
An endoscope, cannula, and obturator. The endoscope has a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has a solid state camera. The handle contains a circuit board with circuitry for control of and receipt of signals from the camera. The handle and its components are formed of biocompatible materials. The handle is formed of inner and outer shells concentric with each other, rotation of the shells relative to each other controlled via one or more resilient components frictionally engaged between the respective shells. The handle has no metal fasteners, no adhesives, and no detachable parts small enough to travel though fluid passages of the insertion shaft, except those encapsulated by overmolding or melt-fusing to prevent dislodgement. The cannula has a connector and locking feature designed to engage with mating connectors and locking features of the obturator and the endoscope, both successively.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
An endoscope, cannula, and obturator. The endoscope has a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has a solid state camera. The handle contains a circuit board with circuitry for control of and receipt of signals from the camera. The handle and its components are formed of biocompatible materials. The handle is formed of inner and outer shells concentric with each other, rotation of the shells relative to each other controlled via one or more resilient components frictionally engaged between the respective shells. The handle has no metal fasteners, no adhesives, and no detachable parts small enough to travel though fluid passages of the insertion shaft, except those encapsulated by overmolding or melt-fusing to prevent dislodgement. The cannula has a connector and locking feature designed to engage with mating connectors and locking features of the obturator and the endoscope, both successively.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
An optical prism is designed to displace a field of view offset angle of an endoscope. A connector is designed to affix the optical prism to a tip of an endoscope that has a field of view at an initial offset angle displaced off-axis. The optical prism and connector are designed to reduce the offset angle of the field of view of the endoscope toward on-axis. Delivery packaging for an endoscope has a vial, well, or cavity designed to retain anti-adhesive lubricant in contact with a lens or window of the endoscope.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
An optical prism is designed to displace a field of view offset angle of an endoscope. A connector is designed to affix the optical prism to a tip of an endoscope that has a field of view at an initial offset angle displaced off-axis. The optical prism and connector are designed to reduce the offset angle of the field of view of the endoscope toward on-axis. Delivery packaging for an endoscope has a vial, well, or cavity designed to retain anti-adhesive lubricant in contact with a lens or window of the endoscope.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
A61B 1/07 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
G02B 1/18 - Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
A61B 50/30 - Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. At least a portion of the insertion shaft is flexible or articulated. Controls on the handle permit control of flex or articulation of the insertion shaft to permit direction of illumination and field of view of the imaging circuitry. Control force transfer elements permit a surgeon to direct a direction of the imaging circuitry by transfer of mechanical force directed by a surgeon to the bendable distal portion to cause the bendable portion to bend under the surgeon's control.
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
An injection needle has a point designed to pierce flesh of a living body, and has a fluid passage therethrough designed for delivery of a therapeutic agent at a delivery site within the body, the delivery site to be reached by piercing at which an injection fluid is to be delivered via the fluid passage. The outer diameter of the needle is no more than about 2.1mm. Solid state illumination circuitry and an imaging sensor are designed to provide illumination and imaging, and are mounted within supporting structure designed to support the illumination circuitry and imaging sensor within the needle arranged for illuminating and viewing the delivery site reached by piercing.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
An injection needle has a point designed to pierce flesh of a living body, and has a fluid passage therethrough designed for delivery of a therapeutic agent at a delivery site within the body, the delivery site to be reached by piercing at which an injection fluid is to be delivered via the fluid passage. The outer diameter of the needle is no more than about 2.1 mm. Solid state illumination circuitry and an imaging sensor are designed to provide illumination and imaging, and are mounted within supporting structure designed to support the illumination circuitry and imaging sensor within the needle arranged for illuminating and viewing the delivery site reached by piercing.
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
An endoscope. One or more image sensors are designed to capture image data in visible light. One or more image sensors are designed to capture image data in a nonvisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. An insertion shaft is designed to support the visible and nonvisible image sensors at or near a distal tip with sufficient rigidity to permit guidance to a surgical site in a human body. Image processing software is trained through machine learning to enhance image quality of at least the nonvisible portion of the image, and to present the enhanced nonvisible image as a real-time, visible presentation to a surgeon. A handle has electronics for drive of illumination circuitry and to receive imaging signal from the imaging circuitry. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to separably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When separated, the joint permits removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
G06T 7/30 - Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration
A61B 5/00 - Measuring for diagnostic purposes Identification of persons
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/04 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
H04N 23/45 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
H04N 23/54 - Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
H04N 23/74 - Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The external sheath includes projections that fit closely on either side of one or more of the external ribs to lock the sheath in place circumferentially relative to the arthroscope. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/018 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor for receiving instruments
A61B 1/12 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 17/00 - Surgical instruments, devices or methods
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
24.
Engagement and Education of Patients for Endoscopic Surgery
One or more computers provide an interface that permits a patient to request information about a disease or injury treatable by surgery. The computers host a dialog between the patient and a human expert in treatment and the patient, including taking a patient history for storage into the computer memory. In the event that the patient undergoes surgery, the computers receive a video feed from an endoscope being used in surgery of a patient, and store at least excerpts from the video under control of the surgeon. The computers receive instructions from a member of the surgical team to edit the stored video into an educational video designed to educate the patient in post-surgical care of the surgery site. Via an interface compliant with patient confidentiality laws, the computers provide the educational video to the patient.
G16H 80/00 - ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
G16H 10/20 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
G16H 10/60 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
25.
ENDOSCOPE WITH DISPOSABLE CAMERA SHAFT AND REUSEABLE HANDLE
An endoscope. The endoscope's insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a distal tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of a body cavity during surgery. The proximal portion of the handle has electronics for drive of the illumination circuitry and to receive imaging signal from the imaging circuitry, the proximal handle portion being designed to permit sterilization between uses. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to separably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When it is separated, the joint permits removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement. The joint is designed so that, when connected, the joint can transfer mechanical force from a surgeon's hand to the insertion shaft, and provide electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
26.
Endoscope with Disposable Camera Shaft and Reuseable Handle
An endoscope with a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near a tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of a body cavity for a surgeon during surgery. The proximal portion of the handle has electronics for drive of the illumination circuitry and to receive imaging signal from the imaging circuitry, the proximal handle portion being designed to permit sterilization between uses. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to separably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When it is separated, the joint permits removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement. The joint is designed so that, when connected, the joint can transfer mechanical force from a surgeon's hand to the insertion shaft, and provides electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry.
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
27.
ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION OF PATIENTS FOR ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY
One or more computers provide an interface that permits a patient to request information about a disease or injury treatable by surgery. The computers host a dialog between the patient and a human expert in treatment and the patient, 5 including taking a patient history for storage into the computer memory. In the event that the patient undergoes surgery, the computers receive a video feed from an endoscope being used in surgery of a patient, and store at least excerpts from the video under control of the surgeon. The computers receive instructions from a member of the surgical team to edit the stored video into an educational video designed to educate the patient in post-surgical care of the surgery site. Via an interface compliant with patient confidentiality laws, the computers provide the educational video to the patient.
A61B 34/00 - Computer-aided surgeryManipulators or robots specially adapted for use in surgery
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
G16H 30/40 - ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical images for processing medical images, e.g. editing
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses. Check valves are operably coupled to the inner surface of the external sheath within the fluid channels.
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/018 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor for receiving instruments
A61B 1/12 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements
A61B 17/00 - Surgical instruments, devices or methods
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The external sheath includes projections that fit closely on either side of one or more of the external ribs to lock the sheath in place circumferentially relative to the arthroscope. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/018 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor for receiving instruments
A61B 1/12 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements
A61B 17/00 - Surgical instruments, devices or methods
A61B 90/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups , e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 17/00 - Surgical instruments, devices or methods
A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.
A61B 1/012 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 17/00 - Surgical instruments, devices or methods
A61B 19/00 - Instruments, implements or accessories for surgery or diagnosis not covered by any of the groups A61B 1/00-A61B 18/00, e.g. for stereotaxis, sterile operation, luxation treatment, wound edge protectors(protective face masks A41D 13/11; surgeons' or patients' gowns or dresses A41D 13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M 1/00)
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
A61B 1/12 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with cooling or rinsing arrangements
A61B 1/04 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances
A61M 3/00 - Medical syringes, e.g. enemataIrrigators
A61B 1/06 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
A61B 1/317 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor for introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
A61B 1/015 - Control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/05 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
35.
Lens mounting system for use in lens relay systems
An improved lens mounting systems for use in lens relay systems in disclosed. The lens mounting system includes at least one lens and a tubular lens mount. The tubular lens mount is portion of a cylinder with a cross section slightly larger than a semicircle. The edges of the tubular lens mount may be beveled. The inner diameter of the tubular lens mount may be equal to, or slightly smaller than, the outer diameter of the lens. In addition, the tubular lens mount may be in three point contact with the mounted lens.
A reinforced arthroscope comprising external ribs to provide for a number of separate fluid channels, such as inflow, outflow and interstitial tissue drainage, when the arthroscope is slipped into a disposable external sheath. The arthroscope is constructed to be sufficiently rigid so as to penetrate and move within a joint without damaging the rod optics inside. The externality of the arthroscope channels allow for cleaning and sterilizing the scope between uses.
A61B 1/012 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
A protective cap for use on arthroscopic instruments and sheaths disposed over arthroscopic instruments. The cap protects the distal end of the instrument from accidental damage caused by other instruments used during a surgical procedure. The portion of the cap that covers a view port on an arthroscope is transparent in order to allow a user to see through the instrument and through the cap.
A61B 1/00 - Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopesIlluminating arrangements therefor
patents
