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US 2022/0022740 A1Published application
Endoscope and method of use
AssigneeMeditrina, Inc.
InventorsCsaba TRUCKAI, Britta KOTOV, John H. SHADDUCK
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Endoscopes and methods of their use, where the endoscopes provide a low profile or cross-section which facilitates introduction through small body passages, such as patient's cervix, and into body cavities, such a patient's uterus.
Claims27
An endoscopic device for use with a tool, the endoscopic device, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having an open distal end and an open passageway extending therethrough;
- a sensor assembly comprising an image sensor having an optical axis that is perpendicular to the image sensor and a field of view that is angled relative to the optical axis, the sensor assembly sized to fit within the open distal end;
- a flex circuit coupled to the sensor assembly and extending proximally within the open passageway;
- a flexible arm structure having a first end coupled to the sensor assembly and a second end within the open passageway and affixed to an inner sleeve such that the elongated shaft is moveable relative to the inner sleeve, the flexible arm structure, and the sensor assembly;
- wherein the flexible arm structure comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion, both extending proximally and defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is configured to receive the flex circuit;
- wherein the flexible arm structure comprises an insertion position when restrained within the elongated shaft such that the flexible arm structure positions the sensor assembly so the optical axis is angled relative to a shaft axis of the elongated shaft;
- and
- wherein the flexible arm structure biases towards a deployed position when unrestrained by the elongated shaft such that the flexible arm structure positions the sensor assembly away from the shaft axis of the elongated shaft, wherein as the flexible arm structure moves through the open distal end of the elongated shaft the sensor assembly can be moved between the insertion position and the deployed position such that the field of view is oriented to observe the tool advanced through the open distal end of the elongated shaft.
5 more elements
(canceled)
An endoscopic method of treating or examining a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a system including an endoscope, image processor, controller and inflow and outflow pumps, where the endoscope has an axially-extending shaft with a distal spring structure carrying an image sensor, where the spring structure is moveable between (i) a first configuration with a reduced profile where the sensor's field of view is oriented to observe introduction of the shaft through a passage in the patient's body, and (ii) at least one second configuration having an expanded profile with the image sensor moved away from the a shaft axis where the field of view is oriented to observe a tool introduced through a working channel therein;
- introducing the shaft in the first configuration through a body passageway into a working space while viewing images from the image sensor;
- operating the inflow and outflow pumps with the controller to circulate fluid flows into the patient's body;
- moving the spring structure from the first configuration to the second configuration such that an optical axis of the image sensor intersects with the shaft axis;
- advancing a tool through a working channel into the working space;
- and
- viewing the tool with images from the image sensor and performing a treatment in the working space with the tool.
4 more elements
-46. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.