Improved endoscope tip

Abstract

In one embodiment, a ureteroscope for ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy is disclosed, comprising a handle, a disposable portion consisting of a flexible polyamide cannula (110) braided with 2.5 mm diameter 316L stainless steel wire, a trapezoidal camera, a distal tip, an LED module array consisting of four LEDs precisely spaced at 90-degree intervals around the camera, a temperature sensor located at the distal tip and calibrated to detect temperatures ranging from 25°C to 50°C, a pressure sensor located at the distal tip with a sensitivity range of 0 to 40 mmHg for regulating intrarenal pressure, and a video processing unit (VPU) with a processing speed of 2.5 GHz configured to receive and process data from the sensors and camera.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of Indian Provisional Application No. 202221054413, filed on September 22, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD The present subject matter relates generally to the field of medical instruments. More specifically, the present subject matter relates to an endoscopic device, particularly a ureteroscope, having a tip structure with a distal camera, an LED module, and a sensor. [Background technology]

[0003] Endoscopic devices for surgery and diagnosis are well known. Endoscopes have gained widespread acceptance in the medical community because they provide physicians with a means of viewing a patient's internal anatomy while minimizing trauma to the patient. Over the years, many endoscopes have been developed and classified according to their specific purpose, such as ureteroscopes, cystoscopes, colonoscopes, laparoscopes, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopes. Endoscopes can be inserted into natural orifices in the body or through an incision in the skin. A conventional endoscope generally comprises a handle and an insertion section (or, in the case of a segmented endoscope, reusable or disposable sections connected together by some means). The distal end of the insertion section houses various working components for observation, such as an optical or electronic imaging system. The proximal end of the handle houses controls for operating the instrument and devices for viewing images, and the end is connected to a solid or tubular elongated shaft.

[0004] To use an endoscope, a physician inserts the distal end into a patient through a natural or artificial incision and uses working components at the distal end of the insertion tube to diagnose or treat the patient's medical condition. The proximal end remains external to the patient and is typically connected to an eyepiece, video monitor, or other equipment. The insertion tube uses a complex lens system to transmit images from the distal tip of the endoscope to the viewer. This lens system is typically a relay lens system in rigid endoscopes, or a bundle of optical fibers or an objective lens system in flexible endoscopes. For both rigid and flexible endoscopes, lenses and fiber optic systems are expensive. Currently developed endoscopes incorporate separate illuminators, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for illumination.

[0005] Kidney stones (medically known as ureteral stones) are a common medical problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Laser lithotripsy (LAS) is gaining popularity in today's urology world because it can break stones into tiny fragments or dust of less than 0.2 mm. Furthermore, laser lithotripsy must be performed in an aqueous environment (e.g., saline solution, contrast agent). The use of water during surgery alters the internal pressure of the organ, and excessively high or low pressure can cause significant harm to the human body. High intraorgan pressure can sometimes facilitate the absorption of bacteria and endotoxins into the bloodstream, leading to postoperative fever. Hypertension can also cause lymphatic and venous reflux, leading to fluid leakage, postoperative pain, uremia, and kidney damage. Furthermore, a sudden increase in intrarenal pressure can cause perfusion fluid supplied to the kidney to backflow into the renal pelvis, renal vein, and renal lymphatics, increasing the risk of exudate, which can significantly endanger the patient's life.

[0006] Furthermore, during lithotripsy, insufficient irrigation can cause the temperature inside the body cavity to rise to dangerous levels. Furthermore, the lens module and LED generate heat within the tip body. Currently, most existing medical endoscopes lack temperature measurement devices at the tip of the insertion section, making it impossible to monitor the temperature at the tip or inside the body cavity after maneuvering the endoscope into the body cavity. Heating at the tip not only causes discomfort to the patient but can also affect the performance of some of the electronic components inside the tip. Excessive temperatures have also been known to cause component malfunctions. In particular, under high temperature conditions, LEDs lose brightness and their chromaticity shifts toward blue. Generally, imagers exhibit increased noise and changes in image characteristics such as hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast when exposed to high temperatures.

[0007] Although the state of the art in endoscopy today is relatively advanced, problems still persist, and there is a need for pressure and temperature monitoring in clinical surgery that is directly related to the safety of the patient's surgery in order to overcome the above problems. Therefore, the present subject matter is directed to providing an improved endoscope that is relatively simple in design and construction, yet highly effective for its intended purpose. Summary of the Invention

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The embodiments of the present disclosure provide technical improvements as solutions to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems identified by the inventors in conventional systems.

[0009] In one embodiment, a ureteroscope for ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy is disclosed, comprising a handle designed for ergonomic one-handed operation, a disposable portion consisting of a flexible polyamide cannula braided with 2.5 mm diameter 316L stainless steel wire, a 7.5 French endoscopic trapezoidal camera with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a distal tip, an LED module array consisting of four LEDs precisely spaced at 90-degree intervals around the camera and with a total output of 600 lumens to eliminate the need for fiber optic cables, a temperature sensor located at the distal tip calibrated to detect temperatures ranging from 25°C to 50°C to monitor the risk of cellular damage during ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy, a pressure sensor located at the distal tip with a sensitivity range of 0-40 mmHg to adjust for intrarenal pressure, and a video processing unit (VPU) with a processing speed of 2.5 GHz configured to receive and process data from the sensor and camera and display the data on a monitor with a minimum latency of 10 milliseconds.

[0010] In one embodiment, the LED module array and camera work synergistically to provide illumination and real-time visualization without relying on an external light source. The temperature sensor alerts the operator in real time when the detected temperature approaches the upper limit of its calibrated range during a ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy procedure. Additionally, the pressure sensor provides immediate feedback to the surgeon by alerting them to abnormal intrarenal pressure conditions. Furthermore, a data transfer system consisting of a dual PCB ensures rapid communication between the sensor and the VPU. The VPU utilizes proprietary algorithms to process and enhance the raw images from the camera, ensuring clarity and sharpness of the displayed visual data. Furthermore, the disposable portion incorporates a quick-detach mechanism, allowing for efficient replacement between procedures.

[0011] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that features of the present disclosure can be combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following detailed description and drawings. It is understood, therefore, that the present subject matter is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather, that modifications will be covered within the scope of the present subject matter as defined by the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, exemplary structures of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the particular methods and apparatus disclosed herein. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, similar elements are designated by the same numerals.

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-piece ureteroscope device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] 2(a) and 2(b) show perspective and side views, respectively, of a distal tip of a two-piece ureteroscope device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] 3(a)-3(d) are cross-sectional views of a two-piece ureteroscope device illustrating signal transmission according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] In the accompanying drawings, numerals refer to items identified by a line connecting the numeral and the item. Where a numeral is accompanied by an associated arrow, the numeral is used to identify the general item to which the arrow is pointing.

[0018] Furthermore, the figures depict various embodiments of the present subject matter for purposes of illustration only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the present subject matter described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and the manner in which they may be practiced. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," as well as other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and open-ended, in that the items or items following any one of these words are not meant to be an exhaustive list of such items or items, nor are they meant to be limited to only the listed items or items.

[0020] It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, "plurality" refers to two or more, e.g., three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more. Each possibility represents a separate embodiment of the subject matter.

[0021] For purposes of this specification and the claims, various relative terms such as "upper," "lower," "proximal," "distal," "above," "below," "anterior," and "posterior" are used to describe the present subject matter when the subject matter is oriented or viewed from a given direction. It is understood that changing the orientation of the subject matter may require appropriate adjustment of certain relative terms.

[0022] Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the present subject matter is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, etc. described herein, and as such may vary. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter, which is defined solely by the claims.

[0023] This subject proposes an improved ureteroscope that combines disposable and reusable parts to solve the problem of stones being released into the human body due to high pressure and high temperature during surgery in existing lithotripsy systems.

[0024] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide an improved ureteroscope having a tip structure of the ureteroscope device with a camera and an LED module for illumination, thereby eliminating fiber optic cables.

[0025] A further object of the present subject matter is to provide an improved ureteroscope having a tip structure with a temperature sensor that monitors the temperature of the internal environment of the cavity.

[0026] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide an improved ureteroscope having a tip structure with a pressure sensor that makes changes in internal pressure more noticeable to the treating physician.

[0027] Yet another object of the present subject matter is to provide a distal tip structure of a ureteroscope device that is simple in structure, easy to assemble with a camera module and a sensor, simple and convenient to operate, saves operation time, and has high work efficiency.

[0028] In one aspect of the present disclosure, an improved ureteroscope with a combination of disposable and reusable components is disclosed, addressing the issue of high pressure and high temperature inflicted on stones during surgery. The reusable and disposable components are easy to assemble and disassemble. Furthermore, the distal tip of the endoscope integrates the smallest trapezoidal camera and LED module array, facilitating the construction of a 7.5 Fr endoscope. The distal tip also integrates temperature and pressure sensors to monitor pressure and temperature increases during ureteroscope laser lithotripsy, allowing for the control of renal Renal pressure to avoid postoperative sepsis and temperature increases during ureteroscope laser lithotripsy to avoid cellular damage. Data is captured and sent to a video processing unit (VPU) via a PCB. The processed data is transmitted to a monitor, which allows the surgeon to control stimulation, IRP, and temperature maintenance during ureteroscope laser lithotripsy.

[0029] Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the drawings and detailed description of exemplary embodiments. Additionally, in the following tables, the nomenclature used is provided. JPEG2025532158000002.jpg67139

[0030] Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1-3 illustrate, for purposes of presenting the present subject matter, a single-handed, two-piece endoscopic device, particularly a distal tip of a ureteroscope integrated with a camera and LED module array disposed with sensors. It should be noted that Figures 1-3 are merely exemplary. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the disclosed embodiments.

[0031] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a ureteroscope device 100 in a loaded configuration, including a reusable portion, specifically a handle 102, and a disposable portion 104. The disposable portion 104 has a distal end 106 and a proximal end 108, and is adapted to be inserted into a location to be observed within a subject. A cannula 110 made from a polyamide braided with metal wire is disposed from the distal end 106; the cannula may be flexible and may include one or more lumens (not shown), with a tip 122 at a bend that can be articulated and deflected in any direction along or around a longitudinal axis A-A'. The handle 102 of the endoscopic device 100, consisting of the distal end 112 and the proximal end 114, is configured to control movement of the cannula 110 in one or more directions relative to the longitudinal axis A-A'. The handle 102 is made of a high-performance thermoplastic, such as polysulfone, and is ergonomically designed for easy one-handed operation by a user. With the aid of a lever 116, the user can move the bending section in one or more directions. An unlock button 118 is provided for detaching the handle 102 from the disposable portion 104. Additionally, a working channel 120 is provided in the disposable portion 104.

[0032] 1 is merely exemplary. Those skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the disclosed embodiments. The material used to manufacture the ureteroscope can be different from the family of high performance thermoplastics, such as polysulfone, as used in the present subject matter. The cannula material can be a different material other than polyamide.

[0033] Referring now to Figures 2(a) and 2(b), the tip 122 of the ureteroscope device 100 is illustrated. The distal tip 122 is integrated with a pressure sensor 202 and a temperature sensor 204. Additionally, the tip 200 is integrated with a small, trapezoidal camera 206 and LED module 208, which facilitates the creation of a 7.5 Fr endoscope. The size of the camera 206 is kept small so that, when integrated with the tip, it can be easily inserted into any small opening in the body, ultimately reducing patient discomfort and allowing access to the smallest passageways during surgery. Additionally, multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 208 are provided on either side of the camera to illuminate the area as the camera captures information.

[0034] A tiny size absolute pressure sensor 202 is located on the left side of the distal tip 122 to capture data and transmit it to a VPU (not shown) via multiple PCBs (described below) to guide the surgeon to control perfusion and intrarenal pressure (IRP). A tiny size temperature sensor 204 is also located on the right side of the distal tip 122 to capture data and transmit it to a VPU (not shown) via multiple PCBs (described below) to help the surgeon control perfusion and maintain body temperature to avoid cell damage during ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy.

[0035] Figures 3(a)-3(d) are cross-sectional views of a two-piece ureteroscope device showing signal transmission. As seen in Figure 3(a), the temperature sensor 204, pressure sensor 202, and LED 208 are connected to a first PCB 302 present in the disposable portion. From there, the signals 308 are transferred to a second PCB 304 present in the reusable portion of the handle, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c). The signals 308 are further transferred via the second PCB 304 to a VPU (not shown), and the processed data is displayed on a monitor 306, as shown in Figure 3(d).

[0036] The camera captures raw images and passes them to a video processing unit (VPU), where the signal is converted from analog to digital. The information captured from the camera is processed by the VPU and transferred to a monitor (not shown) through an output port. The monitor displays the information captured by the camera. The purpose of the white light LED is to provide illumination while the camera is capturing information. It helps provide the brightness necessary for the camera to capture information and obtain the required image resolution.

[0037] 1-3 are merely exemplary. One skilled in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of the disclosed embodiments.

[0038] Ureteroscopy offers the benefits of surgery without the discomfort of traditional methods, and the compact size of the camera allows for reliable access to narrower passageways.

[0039] The object of the present invention has technical and economical significance over the devices of the prior art.

[0040] While particular embodiments of the subject matter have been shown and described, modifications thereof will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is understood that the various embodiments, details, and configurations of the ureteroscope device and its features described above and illustrated in the accompanying figures may be interchanged between various embodiments while remaining within the scope of the subject matter. Furthermore, it is understood that various changes may be made to any of the ureteroscope devices and / or elements described hereinabove while remaining within the scope of the subject matter.

Claims

1. A ureteroscope for ureteroscope laser lithotripsy, A handle (102) part that is ergonomically designed to be operated with one hand; a disposable portion (104) consisting of a flexible polyamide cannula (110) braided with 2.5 mm diameter 316L stainless steel wire; a 7.5 Fr endoscopic trapezoidal camera (206) with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels; a distal tip (122); an LED module array (208) consisting of four LEDs, each precisely spaced at 90 degree intervals around the periphery of the camera (206), with a total output of 600 lumens to eliminate the need for fiber optic cables; a temperature sensor (204) located at the distal tip (122) calibrated to detect temperatures ranging from 25°C to 50°C for monitoring the risk of cell damage during ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy; a pressure sensor (202) located at the distal tip (122) having a sensitivity range of 0-40 mmHg for regulating intrarenal pressure; a video processing unit (VPU) with a processing speed of 2.5 GHz configured to receive and process data from the sensors and cameras and display the data on a monitor (306) with a minimum latency of 10 milliseconds; A ureteroscope comprising:

2. The ureteroscope of claim 1, wherein the LED module array (208) and the camera work synergistically to provide illumination and real-time visualization without reliance on an external light source.

3. 10. The ureteroscope of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor (204) provides a real-time alert to an operator when the detected temperature approaches the upper limit of its calibrated range during a ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy procedure.

4. 10. The ureteroscope of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor (202) provides an immediate feedback mechanism to the surgeon by alerting the surgeon to abnormal conditions of intrarenal pressure.

5. The ureteroscope of claim 1, further comprising a data transfer system consisting of a dual PCB to ensure rapid communication between the sensor and the VPU.

6. The ureteroscope of claim 1, wherein the VPU utilizes proprietary algorithms to process and enhance raw images from the camera (206) to ensure clarity and sharpness of the displayed visual data.

7. 10. The ureteroscope of claim 1, wherein the disposable portion (104) includes a built-in quick release mechanism to facilitate efficient exchange during a procedure.

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