WO1993025137A1

WO1993025137A1 - Operative electronic video endoscope

Info

Publication number: WO1993025137A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/004817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edwin L. Adair
Original assignee: Adair Edwin Lloyd
Priority date: 1992-06-05
Filing date: 1993-05-19
Publication date: 1993-12-23

Abstract

An operative electronic video endoscope (10) includes an elongated tubular barrel (12) having a distal end and a proximal end to which a pistol grip handle (14, 38) is attached. A bundle of light transmitting fibers (50) extend through the barrel (12) and have distal ends adjacent the distal end of the barrel. A straight operative channel (16) extends between the fibers within the barrel, the channel having a distal end coterminous with the distal end of the barrel and a proximal end extending through the handle for receiving an operative instrument (20). Electronic image producing means (22) extends between the fibers (50) within the barrel along side of the operative channel (16) and includes an image receptor (22) at the distal end of the barrel. The proximal ends of the light fibers exit the pistol grip portion (38) of the handle (14) for connection to a light source (56). The electronic image producing means (22) includes an electronic cable (36) which exits the pistol grip portion (38) of the handle (14) for connection to an electronic image processor (44).

Description

OPERATIVE ELECTRONIC VIDEO ENDOSCOPE

Technical Field

This invention relates to an operative video endoscope and particularly to an electronic endoscope which does not require an eyepiece.

Background Art

Until recently, an endoscope could not be used easily for both viewing the operative site and performing an operative procedure. The reason for this was that in order to view the operative site an . eyepiece must be provided at the proximal end of the endoscope through which the surgeon viewed the operative site. Thus, there was no place for positioning an operative device. Instead, a trochar _ had to be inserted at another location into the operative site and the operative procedure would take place through the trochar.

These problems have been partially overcome by the Richard Wolfe Medical Instruments Corp. of Rosemont, Illinois who has developed operative endoscopes with offset eyepieces. To accomplish this, the proximal end of the endoscope has an offset portion with prisms or mirrors therein for reflecting the light received through the endoscope down to an offset eyepiece which may be located so as to be parallel to the endoscope or can be at an angle thereto. While this apparatus works satisfactorily for its intended purpose, one of the disadvantages is that it may be awkward for the surgeon to hold his eye against the eyepiece while manipulating an operative instrument through the endoscope. Also, the added optics needed for the arrangement described, add to the weight, cost and complexity of the endoscope. The heavier the endoscope, the more difficult it is for the surgeon to hold and manipulate.. In addition, for many applications, the eyepiece is replaced by a camera which further increases the weight of the device and makes it difficult for the surgeon to hold in a desired position for any substantial length of time.

An electronic endoscope has been developed, as shown in my copending U.S. patent application, Serial No. 769,120, filed 30 September 1991, entitled "Heat Sterilizable Electronic Video Endoscope", which includes an electronic image producing multi-strand cable surrounded by light transmitting fibers. This endoscope has the advantage of being quite small in size allowing it to enter small bodily passageways or through small trochars. However, it does not have an operative channel and therefore any operative procedures must be done through a separate trochar inserted in the body through another entry site.

Yoon U.S. Patent No. 3,870,048 shows an operative device attached to a laparoscope for use as a unit. This device requires the use of a large trochar, which is undesirable.

Kakinu a et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,074,306 shows an endoscope which in certain embodiments a cable extends through the endoscope and has a curved distal end to which forceps are attached. However, this apparatus is not suitable with an operative device which is substantially rigid and straight.

Moore et al. U.S. Patent No. RE. 31,289 shows an endoscope having separate passageways in the endoscope for the light transmitting source and the image receiving electronics.

Disclosure of the Invention

In accordance with this invention, an operative electronic video endoscope has been provided which includes an elongated tubular barrel having a distal end and a proximal end. A bundle of light transmitting fibers extend through the barrel and have distal ends adjacent the distal end of the barrel. A straight operative channel extends between the fibers within the barrel, the channel having a distal end coterminous with the distal end of the barrel. Electronic image producing means extends between the fibers within the barrel along side of the operative channel and includes an image receptor adjacent the distal end of the barrel.

More particularly, this image receptor can be a CCD and the fibers completely fill the barrel except for the space occupied by the operative channel and the electronic image producing means. A handle is attached at the proximal end of the barrel and the operative channel extends entirely through the handle. The handle has an offset pistol grip portion through which the electronic cable and fibers extend. Means may be provided for connecting the fibers to a light source and for connecting the cable to a video monitor. Conveniently, the barrel has a maximum inside diameter of 12 mm and the operative channel has an inside diameter of at least 3 mm. With the electronic video endoscope just described, a device has been provided which is of simple construction, light weight and has a barrel with an operative channel along side the electronic image producing multi-strand cable, both being surrounded by light carrying fibers. With this arrangement, the diameter of the barrel of the endoscope can be reduced and/or the operative channel enlarged over that previously possible. The image obtained through the endoscope can be viewed on a TV monitor which can be positioned for the convenience of the surgeon. Thus, he can both observe the operative site and carry out operative procedures through the operative channel without the increased weight provided by a lens system and/or camera mounted on the proximal end of the endoscope.

Additional advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electronic video endoscope constructed in accordance with this invention, connected to a light source and a electronic video signal processing device;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the construction of the handle;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the connection of the CCD and associated lens system to the electronic image transmitting multi-strand cable; Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the endoscope of Figure 1, taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section, taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the arrangement of the electronic cable, the operative channel and the light transmitting fibers within the barrel of the endoscope.

Best Mode For Carrying Out the Invention In accordance with this invention, an operative electronic video endoscope 10 is provided which has an elongated tubular barrel 12 having a distal .end and a proximal end to which is connected a handle 14. A channel 16 is provided within barrel 12 and has a distal end which is coterminous with the distal end of barrel 12 and has a proximal end which extends through handle 14, as shown in Figure 2, and may be 5 provided, as illustrated, with a fixture 18 for providing fluid to the channel. Also, an instrument, such as instrument 20 can slide longitudinally through channel 16 and beyond the end of barrel 12, as shown in Figure 1. As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, channel 0 14 extends along one side of the interior of barrel 12. A CCD 22 is mounted adjacent the distal end of barrel 12 just behind a lens system 24, best seen in Figure 3. Mounted behind CCD 22 in series are terminal board 26, terminal array 28, folded circuit board 30 which is fastened to a connector 32 which receives a plug 34 on the distal end of cable 36. A multi-strand cable 36 is connected to the CCD and extends through the barrel 12 substantially parallel to operative channel 16 and exits through the pistol _Q grip portion 38 of handle 14 into a connector 40 which in turn is connected by cable 42 to an electronic image processor 44. Processor 44 can provide signals through a cable 46 to a video monitor 48 by which the surgeon can view the operative site. 5 The remainder of the space within barrel 12 is filled with light transmitting fibers 50 which are coterminous with the distal end of barrel 12 and extend through the pistol grip 38 of handle 14 and terminate in a connector 52 connected by means of a 0 light cable 54 to a light source 56, shown in Figure 1.

Conveniently, channel 16 can have an interior diameter between 3 mm and 5 mm and the exterior diameter of the barrel 12 need be no more than 12 mm. 5 Since no shielding or encapsulation of any of the light transmitting fibers or the operative channel is required, no space as required for the thickness of these elements. This allows the endoscope barrel to be of smaller diameter and/or the operative channel to be of a larger diameter. Also, since there is no eyepiece connected to the handle, the endoscope 10 is of lighter weight than that of traditional endoscopes. Furthermore, the surgeon does not have to try to manipulate an operative device while at the same time looking through an eyepiece connected to the endoscope. In contrast, he can view an image on a video monitor while manipulating the endoscope and the operative instrument extending through it. Furthermore, since there are no optics associated with the proximal end of the endoscope or no camera attached thereto, the endoscope is of much lighter weight allowing the physician to more easily manipulate it and to hold it in the proper position without tiring as rapidly as with other prior art heavy endoscopes.

This invention has been described in detail with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that various other modification scan be effected within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMSI clais:

1. An operative electronic video endoscope which comprises: an elongated tubular barrel having a distal end and a proximal end and a first larger diameter; a smaller diameter operative channel within said barrel located adjacent one side thereof for removably receiving an operative device, said operative channel having a distal end coterminous with said distal end of said barrel and having a proximal end extending beyond said proximal end of said barrel for receiving an operative device; a CCD mounted in said distal end of said barrel adjacent said operative channel; a power cable connected to said CCD and extending through said barrel and out said proximal end thereof; and light transmitting fibers located at least partially around said operative channel and said power cable each having distal ends adjacent said distal end of said barrel and extending out said proximal end of said barrel.

2. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 1, further including: a handle attached to said proximal end of said barrel, said distal end of said channel extending through said handle.

3. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 2, wherein: said handle has a pistol grip.

4. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 3, wherein: said power cable and said light transmitting fibers exit said handle through said pistol grip.

5. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said light transmitting fibers completely fill the space within said barrel around said power cable and said channel.

6. An operative electronic video endoscope which comprises: an elongated tubular barrel having a distal end and a proximal end; a bundle of light transmitting fibers extending through said barrel and having distal ends adjacent said distal end of said barrel; a straight operative channel extending between said fibers within said barrel, said channel having a distal end coterminous with said distal end of said barrel; and electronic image producing means extending between said light transmitting fibers within said barrel along side of said operative channel, including an image receptor at said distal end of said barrel.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 6, wherein: said light transmitting fibers completely fill the barrel except for the space occupied by said operative channel and said electronic image producing means.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 7, further including: a handle attached to said proximal end of said barrel, said operative channel extending entirely through said handle for receiving an operative device.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 7, wherein: said barrel has an inside diameter no greater than 12 mm; and said operative channel has an inside diameter of at least 3 mm.

10. An operative electronic video endoscope which comprises: an elongated tubular barrel having a distal end and an proximal end; a straight operative channel of smaller diameter than said barrel extending therethrough for receiving an operative device; electronic image producing multi-strand cable extending through said barrel and laying along side of said channel; and light transmitting fibers extending through said barrel and filling all of the void around said channel and said cable within said barrel, said light transmitting fibers having distal ends located adjacent said distal end of said barrel.

11. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 10, further including: a CCD mounted in said distal end of said barrel operatively connected to said multi-strands of said cable.

12. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 11, further including: a handle, having an offset pistol grip, connected to said proximal end of said barrel, said channel extending through said handle, and said cable and said light transmitting fibers extending through said offset pistol grip.

13. Apparatus, as claimed in Claim 12, further including: means for connecting said light transmitting fibers to a light source; and means for connecting said cable to a video monitor.