Endoscope with an imaging catheter assembly and method of configuring an endoscope
AssigneeAvantis Medical, Inc.
InventorsLex Bayer, Rupesh Desai, John Higgins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscope includes an insertion tube having an end, and an imaging catheter assembly. The imaging catheter assembly includes a tubular body, an imaging device, and a shape memory link that connects the imaging device to the tubular body.
Claims71
An assembly, comprising:
- a tubular body;
- an imaging device;
- and
- a shape memory link that connects the imaging device to the tubular body.
An endoscope assembly, comprising:
- an insertion tube having an end;
- and
- an imaging catheter assembly including
- a tubular body,
- a first imaging device, and
- a shape memory link that connects the first imaging device to the tubular body.
A method of configuring an endoscope, comprising:
- straightening a U-shaped flexible shape memory link at a distal end of an imaging catheter assembly;
- inserting the straightened distal end of the imaging catheter assembly into a channel of an endoscope's insertion tube from a proximal end of the insertion tube;
- and
- pushing the imaging catheter assembly further into the insertion tube until an auxiliary imaging device 42 and the flexible link 44 are pushed out of the distal end of the insertion tube so that the flexible link returns to its natural bent configuration.
An minor endoscope adapted to be inserted into and through a channel of a major endoscope, the minor endoscope including an elongated body, an imaging device located proximate to one end, and a flexible shape memory material coupled to the imaging device to the body;
- wherein the flexible shape memory material may be straightened for insertion into the major endoscope and wherein it assumes its original shape when it is extended beyond the major endoscope, the imaging device providing a retrograde view when the flexible shape memory material assumes its original shape.
An minor endoscope adapted to be inserted into and through a channel of a major endoscope, the minor endoscope including an elongated body, an imaging device located proximate to one end, and a channel for accessories disposed along its length.
An minor endoscope adapted to be inserted into and through a channel of a major endoscope, the minor endoscope including an elongated body, an imaging device located proximate to one end, and a steering mechanism allowing the end minor endoscope to be turned within a dimension approximate to the diameter of the major endoscope when it is extended beyond the major endoscope, permitting the imaging device to provide a retrograde view.
An minor endoscope to be inserted into and through a channel of a major endoscope, the minor endoscope being positioned to extend beyond the major endoscope, and permit the simultaneous imaging of a common region of the body from a substantially forward viewing angle from the major endoscope and a substantially retrograde viewing angle from the minor endoscope.
An minor endoscope to be inserted into and through a channel of a major endoscope, the minor endoscope being positioned to extend beyond the major endoscope, and permit the simultaneous imaging of a common region of the body from two different perspectives, one provided by the major endoscopes, the second provided by the minor endsocope.
An endoscope assembly, comprising:
- an insertion tube having an end;
- a first imaging device mounted on the end of the insertion tube;
- and
- an imaging catheter assembly including an end and a second imaging device mounted on the end of the imaging catheter assembly, wherein the imaging catheter assembly is partially disposed inside the insertion tube, wherein the second imaging device extends beyond the end of the insertion tube, and wherein the first and second imaging devices face each other.
An endoscopic assembly comprising:
- an endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end, and a channel extending between the proximal and distal ends;
- a first imaging sensor disposed on the distal end of the endoscope, the first imaging sensor providing a forward-looking field of view;
- an imaging catheter assembly disposed in the channel, a distal region of the imaging catheter assembly configured to form a U-shape upon deployment beyond the distal end of the endoscope;
- and
- a second imaging sensor disposed on the distal end of the imaging catheter assembly, the second imaging sensor providing a rearward-looking field of view.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.