Steerable ultrasound attachment for endoscope
AssigneeEndoSound, Inc.
InventorsStephen Edward STEINBERG, Scott Sutherland CORBETT, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope. The assembly includes an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, including a communications cable connected to an ultrasound imaging head and an imaging head movement sub-assembly, including a conduit, holding a tension member that is attached to the ultrasound imaging head. Further included are connective elements, adapted to permit the endoscope add-on assembly to be attached to the target endoscope. Finally, the imaging head movement sub-assembly is detachable from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, thereby permitting the imaging head movement subassembly to be processed separately from the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly, after use.
Claims21
An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope that defines a lateral axis and a distal axis, the endoscope add-on assembly including:
- a scope clip configured to secure the endoscope add-on assembly to the target endoscope;
- an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly configured to selectively engage an ultrasound imaging head;
- and
- an instrument guide configured to change direction relative to the target endoscope in response to a varying user input.
An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope, the endoscope add-on assembly including:
- an ultrasound imaging head;
- an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly configured to selectively engage the ultrasound imaging head, wherein said ultrasound imaging sub-assembly comprises a scope clip configured to secure the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly to the target endoscope;
- and
- an instrument guide configured to change direction relative to the target endoscope in response to a varying user input provided via a member comprising a compressive strength.
An endoscope add-on assembly adapted to be attached to a target endoscope, the endoscope add-on assembly including:
- an ultrasound imaging head;
- an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly configured to selectively engage the ultrasound imaging head, wherein said ultrasound imaging sub-assembly comprises a scope clip configured to secure the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly to the target endoscope;
- and
- a needle guide assembly configured to direct a motion of a needle of the target endoscope, wherein the needle guide further comprises a needle guide notch.
A method of using an endoscope add-on assembly, the method comprising:
- securing an ultrasound imaging sub-assembly of the endoscope add-on assembly to a target endoscope via a scope clip of the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly;
- selectively engaging an ultrasound imaging head to the ultrasound imaging sub-assembly of the endoscope add-on assembly via a clip;
- and
- providing a varying user input to an instrument guide of the endoscope add-on assembly via a member comprising a compressive strength, wherein the instrument guide of the endoscope add-on assembly is configured to change direction relative to the target endoscope in response to a varying user input.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.