Ring Illuminated Surgical Camera for Minimally Invasive Endoscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive medical devices, such as ureteroscopes and duodenoscopes, face challenges with visualization, illumination, and irrigation due to the use of fiber optics, which are costly, prone to damage, and require extensive maintenance, leading to infection risks and increased procedural costs.
Innovation Solution
A single-use endoscopic system with a compact ring illuminated surgical camera (RISC) that integrates LEDs and an electronic imaging sensor, providing circular illumination and improved diagnostic capabilities while reducing the device's diameter, and includes separate irrigation and working channels for enhanced surgical field clearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fiber optic bundles are used for illumination and visualization, then illumination quality and image transmission are improved, but device diameter increases and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fiber optic bundles from the device by replacing them with solid-state components (LEDs for illumination and CMOS camera chip for visualization). This removal eliminates the space-consuming fiber bundles while maintaining the essential functions of illumination and imaging, thereby reducing device diameter without sacrificing illumination quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical fiber optic system with electronic components. Instead of using optical fibers to transmit light and images, the invention uses LEDs to generate light and a CMOS camera chip to capture and transmit images electronically. This substitution eliminates the physical fiber bundles that increase device diameter while preserving illumination and visualization functions.
2Illumination intensity
If fiber optic bundles are used for illumination and visualization, then illumination quality and image transmission are improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a disposable single-use device design where the entire endoscope is discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for complex maintenance, cleaning, and sterilization procedures associated with reusable fiber optic devices. The solid-state components (LEDs and CMOS chip) are integrated into a disposable unit that provides the same illumination quality without the ongoing maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
By removing the fragile fiber optic bundles entirely and replacing them with robust solid-state components, the patent extracts the source of maintenance complexity. LEDs and CMOS camera chips have no moving parts and are inherently more durable than fiber optic systems, dramatically reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining illumination quality.
3Length of moving object
If the scope diameter is reduced for minimal invasiveness, then patient trauma is reduced, but irrigation channel capacity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the irrigation function from the imaging function by providing a separate irrigation channel that is distinct from the working channel used for instruments. This segmentation allows the irrigation channel to be optimized for fluid flow capacity while the overall device diameter remains small. The separate channels can be independently sized and configured to meet their respective functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the space constraint by using multiple lumens arranged in a three-dimensional configuration within the scope body. Instead of relying on a single large channel, the design utilizes multiple smaller channels (irrigation channel, working channel, and imaging channel) that are spatially arranged to maximize flow capacity while minimizing overall device diameter. This dimensional arrangement allows adequate irrigation flow through smaller individual channels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The RISC system offers superior illumination and visualization with reduced device diameter, minimizing infection risks and procedural costs by providing a sterile, disposable solution that maintains effective irrigation and instrument access, thus enhancing the safety and efficiency of medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A ring illuminated surgical camera includes a ring lens that includes an emission surface, a reflector, and external surface, a lumen defined by an internal surface which extends longitudinally from the emissions face to the reflector, and an electric wire conduit port passing through the emissions face and adapted to carry an electronic imaging sensor and imaging sensor electrical contacts; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) carried within the lumen, adjacent to the internal surface of the ring lens, and adapted to radially emit light
Implementation Method 2
an electronic imaging sensor adjacent to the emission surface, the electronic imaging sensor having an imaging array and imaging sensor electrical contacts
Data Source
AI summary
Diagnostic and surgical devices that include endoscopic working channels that are non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of an endoscopic tip. Preferably, the devices include a ring illuminated surgical camera (RISC) carried in the endoscopic tip, e.g., perpendicular to the face of the endoscopic tip, and include the endoscopic working channels terminating at openings in the face of the endoscopic tip.