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US 12,593,958 B2Granted
Endoscope
AssigneeTTP Plc
InventorsMichael Withers, Paul Galluzzo, Duncan Stuart Mcbryde, Rita Stella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method for controlling an endoscope having a flexible tubular body, the method comprising: deploying an anchor to stabilise at least a part of the flexible tubular body; and performing active image stabilisation to stabilise the position of a camera at a distal end of the endoscope.
Claims20
An endoscope system for remotely observing a target area of an internal cavity of a patient, the endoscope system comprising:
- an endoscope comprising:
- a flexible tubular body with a distal end portion that reaches the internal cavity in use,
- wherein the distal end portion includes:
- at least one camera configured to capture images of the internal cavity,
- at least one light to illuminate the internal cavity for imaging, and
- at least one working channel to extend tools into the internal cavity,
- at least one anchor arranged circumferentially around the flexible tubular body to stabilize the distal end portion within the internal cavity;
- and
- a processing unit comprising a memory and at least one processor configured to:
- capture a first image of the internal cavity at a first time,
- capture a second image of the internal cavity at a second time,
- calculate a displacement of the distal end portion by comparing the first image and the second image;
- perform active image stabilization to stabilize a position of the at least one camera at the distal end portion of the flexible tubular body;
- and
- calculate image stability and, when the image stability is below a predetermined lower threshold, control a position, a size, an anchoring strength, or a quantity of the at least one anchor to reduce motion of the distal end portion of the flexible tubular body.
12 more elements
A method of stabilizing images captured by an endoscope of a target area of an internal cavity of a patient, the method comprising:
- illuminating at least one light, wherein the at least one light is provided at a distal end portion of flexible tubular body of the endoscope;
- capturing, by at least one camera, a first image of the internal cavity at a first time,
- wherein the at least one camera is provided at the distal end portion of the flexible tubular body of the endoscope;
- capturing, by the at least one camera, a second image of the internal cavity at a second time;
- calculating a displacement of the endoscope by comparing the first image to the second image;
- performing, by at least one anchor, active image stabilization to stabilize a position of a distal end of the endoscope,
- wherein the at least one anchor is arranged circumferentially around the flexible tubular body of the endoscope;
- and
- calculating image stability and, when the image stability is below a predetermined lower threshold, controlling a position, a size, an anchoring strength, or a quantity of the at least one anchor to reduce motion of the distal end portion of the flexible tubular body.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.