With Means For Indicating Position, Depth Or Condition Of Endoscope Patents (Class 600/117)
  • Patent number: 8033989
    Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Hironobu Takizawa, Takeshi Yokoi, Hitoshi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8033991
    Abstract: A handgrip for colonoscope shaft is equipped with force, torque, and acceleration sensors allowing for a comprehensive characterization of colonoscope shaft motion, including recognition of obstacles and recording of forces and torques applied at various times during a colonoscopy procedure. An electronic unit is adapted to receive sensors data wirelessly and calculate a variety of motion parameters guiding a medical practitioner during the procedure and aimed at making colonoscopy safer and less painful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Artann Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Armen P. Sarvazyan, Sergey Tsyuryupa, Vladimir Egorov, Louis Y. Korman
  • Patent number: 8027716
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros, legal representative, Eric Finley, Jamil Elbanna, Scot Martinelli
  • Patent number: 8016749
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a visualization system including a small gauge vision catheter that is designed to be standalone or received within an instrument channel of a larger endoscope. The vision catheter has imaging means disposable within an imaging channel, a working channel, and an electromagnetic sensor element insertable into the working channel of the catheter to provide position tracking. The working channel of the catheter also provides access for therapeutic and diagnostic tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude O Clerc, John Hutchins, Alexandra Rousseau, F Anthony Headley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8010182
    Abstract: A detecting system of the position and the posture of a capsule medical device includes a main body of the capsule medical device that is inserted in a living body, a coil in a capsule that is arranged to the main body of the capsule medical device and forms a resonant circuit, a magnetic field generating device that is arranged around the living body and generates the Alternating magnetic field for generating an induced magnetic field in the coil in the capsule, and a plurality of magnetic field detecting devices that detect the strength of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Aoki, Akio Uchiyama, Kenichi Arai, Kazushi Ishiyama, Shin Yabukami
  • Patent number: 8010183
    Abstract: A detecting system of the position and the posture of a capsule medical device includes a main body of the capsule medical device that is inserted in a living body, a coil in a capsule that is arranged to the main body of the capsule medical device and forms a resonant circuit, a magnetic field generating device that is arranged around the living body and generates the Alternating magnetic field for generating an induced magnetic field in the coil in the capsule, and a plurality of magnetic field detecting devices that detect the strength of the induced magnetic field generated by the coil in the capsule by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Aoki, Akio Uchiyama, Kenichi Arai, Kazushi Ishiyama, Shin Yabukami
  • Patent number: 8005571
    Abstract: A robot system for use in surgical procedures has two movable arms each carried on a wheeled base with each arm having a six of degrees of freedom of movement and an end effector which can be rolled about its axis and an actuator which can slide along the axis for operating different tools adapted to be supported by the effector. Each end effector including optical force sensors for detecting forces applied to the tool by engagement with the part of the patient. A microscope is located at a position for viewing the part of the patient. The position of the tool tip can be digitized relative to fiducial markers visible in an MRI experiment. The workstation and control system has a pair of hand-controllers simultaneously manipulated by an operator to control movement of a respective one or both of the arms. The image from the microscope is displayed on a monitor in 2D and stereoscopically on a microscope viewer. A second MRI display shows an image of the part of the patient the real-time location of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: NeuroArm Surgical Ltd.
    Inventors: Garnette Roy Sutherland, Deon Francois Louw, Paul Bradley McBeth, Tim Fielding, Dennis John Gregoris
  • Patent number: 7998062
    Abstract: Systems and methods employing a small gauge steerable catheter (30) including a locatable guide (32) with a sheath (40), particularly as an enhancement to a bronchoscope (14). A typical procedure is as follows. The location of a target in a reference coordinate system is detected or imported. The catheter (30) is navigated to the target which tracking the distal tip (34) of the guide (32) in the reference coordinate system. Insertion of the catheter is typically via a working channel of a convention bronchoscope. Once the tip of the catheter is positioned at the target, the guide (32) is withdrawn, leaving the sheath (40) secured in place. The sheath (40) is then used as a guide channel to direct a medical tool to target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: superDimension, Ltd.
    Inventor: Pinhas Gilboa
  • Patent number: 7998067
    Abstract: An in-vivo image capturing apparatus including a capsule casing, a gravity sensor, and an image selector. The capsule casing is insertable into a body of a subject and it includes an imaging optical system which can obtain images in the both end directions. The gravity sensor detects a gravity direction of the capsule casing within the body of the subject. The image selector selects one of the both end directions as an imaging direction of the imaging optical system, according to the detected result of the gravity direction by the gravity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Kimoto, Toshimasa Akagi
  • Patent number: 7993265
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope 2 includes a partial-image acquiring unit that has a field of vision of 360° around a central axis in a longitudinal direction (moving direction), and acquires a plurality of partial image data on inner circumferential areas 28a, 28b and the like according to a movement of the capsule endoscope 2. On the other hand, the capsule endoscope 2 is configured to acquire position related data based on which positions Z(t1) and Z(t2) at which the respective partial image data is acquired can be calculated, and enables a receiving apparatus or the like to constitute overall image data based on the partial image data and the position related data, whereby an overall image of a predetermined imaging target in a body of a subject is acquired with simple constitution while suppressing an increase in data amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzushima, Noriyuki Fujimori, Tatsuya Orihara, Masatoshi Homan, Takemitsu Honda, Kazutaka Nakatsuchi
  • Patent number: 7988620
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit of an external device includes a CPU and a memory which are not shown. A program for estimating at least one of the position and orientation of a capsule endoscope on the basis of strength signals received through respective antennas is installed in the signal processing circuit. A single-core coil to generate a magnetic field is arranged in the capsule endoscope. The generated magnetic field is detected by a plurality of coils arranged outside a body, whereby a distance that the capsule endoscope has traveled can be obtained with accuracy. This arrangement controls image-capture timing to reliably capture images necessary for a diagnosis and prevent unnecessary image capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hasegawa, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Ryoko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110184238
    Abstract: A global registration system and method identifies bronchoscope position without the need for significant bronchoscope maneuvers, technician intervention, or electromagnetic sensors. Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) renderings of a 3D airway tree are obtained including VB views of branch positions within the airway tree. At least one real bronchoscopic (RB) video frame is received from a bronchoscope inserted into the airway tree. An algorithm according to the invention is executed on a computer to identify the several most likely branch positions having a VB view closest to the received RB view, and the 3D position of the bronchoscope within the airway tree is determined in accordance with the branch position identified in the VB view. The preferred embodiment involves a fast local registration search over all the branches in a global airway-bifurcation search space, with the weighted normalized sum of squares distance metric used for finding the best match.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: William E. Higgins, Rahul Khare, Scott A. Merritt
  • Publication number: 20110178371
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a display device that displays a first image and a second image, the first image and the second image being contained in image data of a subject captured by an imaging unit of an endoscope apparatus; a designation section that designates a first position on the first image in accordance with an instruction input through an input device; a position calculation section that calculates a second position on the second image, the second position corresponding to the first position on the first image; a display control section that, when the first position is designated, performs a control of displaying a mark at the first position, subsequently displaying a mark at a third position which is different from the first and second positions, and subsequently displaying a mark at the second position; and a measurement section that performs measurement relating to the subject based on the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sumito NAKANO
  • Patent number: 7967742
    Abstract: A method for a variable direction of view endoscope used in combination with an image guided surgical system to provide new diagnostic and surgical capabilities. The method provides the following capabilities: greatly improved endoscopic orientation capabilities, global monitoring of endoscopic viewing direction, and greatly improved surgical approach and procedure planning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans David Hoeg, Nathan Jon Schara, Eric Lawrence Hale
  • Patent number: 7967743
    Abstract: A high accurate image of a specimen is obtained by accurately measuring a distance between the specimen and a tip of a light emitting portion that irradiates a light to the specimen. An endoscope observation device includes the light emitting portion that irradiates the light to the specimen and a light receiving portion that receives an observation light returning from the specimen so as to form an image of the observation light received by the light receiving portion. The endoscope observation device is equipped with a distance measurement unit that measures an absolute distance between the tip of the insertion portion and the specimen through an interference of the low coherence light, a correction unit that corrects the brightness information of the observation light based on the absolute distance measured by the distance measurement unit, and an image forming unit that forms the image of the specimen based on the brightness information of the observation light corrected by the correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushige Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7959557
    Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate the tool located on the medical instrument to secure a stent to an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel, such as an abdominal aorta). The tool may be a sewing tool that is controlled to stitch the stent to the anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hansen Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry D. Weitzner, Gary S. Rogers, Albert Solbjor, Dwight Meglan, Robert Ailinger, David L. Brock, Woojin Lee, David Driscoll
  • Patent number: 7959560
    Abstract: A protection circuit 26c detects a voltage at a point A on an electric-power supply path from a battery 29 to an intra-capsule function executing circuit 30. When the voltage at the point A becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold value (a predetermined midpoint potential), the protection circuit 26c performs a switching control of a switch element 26a, connects the battery 29 to a resistive load 26b, stops supplying driving power to the intra-capsule function executing circuit 30 and at the same time enables to supply electric power to the resistive load 26b, and prevents a false operation of a circuit at the midpoint potential by exhausting the electric power stored in the battery 29 by the resistive load 26b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Mori, Takemitsu Honda
  • Patent number: 7951070
    Abstract: An object observation method and system including an endoscope, at least one treating device, a first detecting portion for detecting information indicating an observation direction of the endoscope, a second detecting portion for detecting information indicating a treatment direction of the treating device, a three dimensional virtual image data storing portion for storing three dimensional image data prepared in advance, a virtual image data processing portion for creating virtual image data based on the information indicating the observation direction and the treatment direction, first and second three dimensional image display monitors, each having first and second image display devices, and switch sections for instructing change of display mode of the second image display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ozaki, Koichi Tashiro, Masaya Fujita, Masakazu Gotanda, Akinobu Uchikubo, Takeaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7951068
    Abstract: A rotating self-traveling endoscope system of the invention comprising an insertion portion having an image pickup unit at its distal end portion and a helical structure formed on the outer surface, a rotating driving device for rotating the insertion portion around a long axis, and a rotating self-traveling insertion assisting tool through which the insertion portion can be freely inserted and which is provided with a flexible tube having a bending portion disposed therein is capable of passage of the insertion portion through a space in a body cavity and passage through a valve in the body cavity, which improves insertion performance into a small intestine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Kura
  • Patent number: 7942810
    Abstract: An endoscope of the present invention includes an insert section inserted in a subject body, an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section, a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section, a signal circuit extending from the control process section, and a connection section provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Sumihiro Uchimura, Fumiyuki Onoda, Toshiaki Noguchi, Akira Taniguchi, Katsuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7945310
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a path correlation module that can compute the path taken by an endoscope scope or other medical instrument during an endoscopic medical procedure and various related attributes and parameters, and can compute and display a correlation between two paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Abhishek Gattani, Salmaan Hameed
  • Patent number: 7942811
    Abstract: A capsulated body having a facility, which acquires biomedical information through endoscopic examination or the like, incorporated therein is inserted into a duct within a living body. Whether the capsulated body has halted for a certain period of time is detected from the time-varying position of the capsulated body or a time-passing change in an image. If it is judged that the capsulated body has halted at a stenosed region or the like, the fact is notified so that the capsulated body can be collected immediately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetake Segawa, Hironobu Takizawa, Hideyuki Adachi, Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7938775
    Abstract: A device, system and method for in-vivo analysis. An autonomous in-vivo device may include a magnet to detain at least a portion of a sample collected from a body lumen; a sensor to sense a property of the detained sample portion; and a transmitter to transmit data of the sensed property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Given Imaging, Ltd.
    Inventors: Elisha Rabinovitz, Gavriel J. Iddan
  • Patent number: 7935047
    Abstract: An endoscope system, serving as a double-balloon endoscope system, includes an endoscope apparatus for examinations using an endoscope, a shape detection apparatus used in combination with the endoscope apparatus, and a balloon controller. The shape detection apparatus detects positions of respective points in an insertion section of the endoscope, estimates the shape of the insertion section on the basis of the detected positions, and displays an image representing the modeled shape of the insertion section corresponding to the estimated shape. The balloon controller controls balloons, serving as insertion support units, attached to the endoscope. The shape detection apparatus detects the states of the balloons controlled through the balloon controller and reflects the controlled states of the balloons on an image representing the shape of the insertion section. With this arrangement, the inflation/deflation states of the balloons and the insertion state can be visually confirmed in real time with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Yoshida, Sumihiro Uchimura, Akira Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7935048
    Abstract: Method for navigating a flexible medical device within a flexible organ of the body of a patient, toward a target region of interest of an inner wall of the flexible organ, by employing a previously acquired global three-dimensional (3D) model of the flexible organ, the method including the procedures of acquiring an initial stereoscopic image of an initial region of the flexible organ and reconstructing an initial local 3D model of the initial region according to the initial stereoscopic image, identifying and registering the initial local 3D model with an initial segment of the previously acquired global 3D model, acquiring a successive stereoscopic image of a successive region of the flexible organ and reconstructing a successive local 3D model of the successive region according to the successive stereoscopic image, identifying and registering the successive local 3D model with a successive segment of the previously acquired global 3D model, detecting the target region of interest by identifying a topograp
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Visionsense Ltd.
    Inventors: Avi Yaron, Tami Frenkel
  • Publication number: 20110098533
    Abstract: A medical instrument including a distortion detection probe disposed in an insertion portion to be inserted into the interior of an examinee provided with a plurality of FBG sensor sections that detect distortion of the insertion portion, a coordinate calculation section that calculates first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections according to a first three-dimensional coordinate system whose origin is a predetermined position based on the detection results of the FBG sensor sections, a coordinate system setting section that sets a second three-dimensional coordinate system based on the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections, a coordinate transformation section that transforms the first three-dimensional coordinates of the respective FBG sensor sections into second three-dimensional coordinates according to the second three-dimensional coordinate system set by the coordinate system setting section and a shape display section that displays the sha
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki ONODA, Hiroyuki USHIFUSA, Tomohiko ODA, Jun HASEGAWA, Masami FUKUCHI, Katsumi HIRAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110098532
    Abstract: In a method for positioning a magnetically navigable endoscopy capsule using a magnetic coil system, to bring the capsule to a known finding position within a region in the body of a patient supported on a patient table, the finding position is identified in at least one volume data set that encompasses the finding position, the volume data set is registered with respect to the patient, the volume data set and the finding position therein are transformed into the coordinate system of the magnetic coil system, and the magnetic coil system is operated to position the endoscopy capsule inserted into the patient to automatically control routing of the capsule to the finding position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Rainer Graumann, Rainer Kuth
  • Patent number: 7931588
    Abstract: A comprehensive system for objective assessment of colonoscope manipulation includes a handgrip for collecting and transmitting colonoscope handling data including force and motion data; a patient pain monitor for collecting and transmitting data on the level of patient's pain and discomfort; and digital processing means for extracting useful features such as colonoscope tip advancement speed from colonoscope-provided video images. All data is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic unit for processing and displaying on a monitor. A colonoscopy procedure is properly conducted when certain shaft advancement causes appropriate tip advancement, all without an increased level of patient's pain. The system of the invention is aimed at providing objective assessment data allowing for safer and less painful colonoscopies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Artann Laboratories
    Inventors: Armen P. Sarvazyan, Sergey Tsyuryupa, Vladimir Egorov, Brendan Corbin, Louis Y. Korman
  • Patent number: 7918786
    Abstract: This capsule type medical device system includes: a position detection device 4 which detects the position within the living body of a capsule type medical device 2 which can be ingested to within the living body; an electrode 5 which is provided in the vicinity of the outer surface of the capsule type medical device 2, and which applies an electrical stimulus to living body tissue; and a control device 6 which controls the electric current which flows to the electrode 5; and the control device 6 controls the electric current which flows to the electrode 5 based upon positional information which is detected by the position detection device 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Hironobu Takizawa, Takeshi Yokoi, Masatoshi Homan, Akio Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20110065989
    Abstract: A comprehensive system for objective assessment of colonoscope manipulation includes a handgrip for collecting and transmitting colonoscope handling data including force and motion data; a patient pain monitor for collecting and transmitting data on the level of patient's pain and discomfort; and digital processing means for extracting useful features such as colonoscope tip advancement speed from colonoscope-provided video images. All data is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic unit for processing and displaying on a monitor. A colonoscopy procedure is properly conducted when certain shaft advancement causes appropriate tip advancement, all without an increased level of patient's pain. The system of the invention is aimed at providing objective assessment data allowing for safer and less painful colonoscopies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: ARTANN LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Armen P. Sarvazyan, Sergey Tsyuryupa, Vladimir Egorov, Brendan Corbin, Louis Y. Korman
  • Patent number: 7905829
    Abstract: An endoscope inserting direction detecting system receives an endoscopic image, detects an endoscope inserting direction, in which an endoscope should be inserted, on the basis of the endoscopic image and produces information concerning the detected inserting direction. The endoscope inserting direction detecting method includes setting sampling pixels, detecting the direction of a change in brightness in the endoscopic image and evaluating the angles among a plurality of inserting-direction candidates and the direction of the change in brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimura, Tetsuo Nonami
  • Patent number: 7905827
    Abstract: An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated in the encapsulated endoscope; and an image processing unit that receives image data sent from the imaging unit, and produces an image, which results from rotation of the received image data, according to the rotational phase of the encapsulated endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Hironobu Takizawa, Takeshi Yokoi, Hitoshi Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20110060189
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for capsule endoscopy are described for locating, positioning, steering, aiming and tracking of an endoscopy capsule (100) within a patient's esophagus and stomach. The apparatus includes an endoscopy capsule (100) with a magnetic element (110), an external capsule positioning system (200) including at least one magnet (202) movable along a track (204) for positioning the endoscopy capsule (100) within a patient. Also described are apparatus and methods for performing endoscopic spectroscopy using different wavelengths of light and other imaging technologies to diagnose various disease conditions, such as premalignant or inflammatory changes and internal bleeding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: Amir Belson
  • Patent number: 7901348
    Abstract: Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Timothy D. Soper, Robb W. Glenny, Eric J. Seibel
  • Patent number: 7901399
    Abstract: A robotic medical system comprises a medical instrument assembly having a retainer, a serial array of instruments disposed in the retainer, a chamber, and an instrument driver. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface configured for generating at least one command signal, a drive unit coupled to the first mechanism, second mechanism, and instrument driver, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command signal(s), for directing the drive unit to linearly displace the array of instruments within the retainer, to displace a selected one of the instruments from the retainer into the chamber, and to distally advance the instrument driver within the chamber to engage the selected instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hansen Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Brock
  • Patent number: 7901349
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting connectivity in a channel in an endoscope undergoing reprocessing using an automatic reprocessor, the apparatus including a source of pressurized fluid which may be a gas alone or gas and liquid and a back pressure detector connected to the channel or channels of interest in the endoscope, the method including providing a source of pressurized fluid, directing the pressurized fluid to a channel in an endoscope, monitoring the time for the back pressure in the pressurized fluid to decay to a predetermined level; and determining whether the channel is connected and open or disconnected by comparing the decay time of the actual back pressure to one or more predetermined values corresponding to the specific channel or channels and model of endoscope undergoing reprocessing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Minntech Corporation
    Inventors: Paul T. Feld, Michael P. Petersen, John E. Marxer, Ward J. Sly, Johannes Antonius Walta
  • Patent number: 7892167
    Abstract: The inventive endoscopy system includes a cannula for arranging an endoscope and forming, between said cannula and endoscope, an irrigation or aspiration channel for transporting an irrigation or aspiration fluid, respectively, a connection ring mounted around the cannula and provided with a connection channel connectable to the irrigation or aspiration channel, respectively and a connector which is mounted on the connection ring and includes a transport channel with the connection channel and a first pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the transport channel. The connection ring is provided with a bypass circuit connectable to the irrigation or aspiration channel, respectively and the connector including a dead channel connectable to the bypass circuit and a second pressure sensor for detecting pressure in the dead channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Future Medical System S.A.
    Inventors: Andre Francisco, Patrick Janin, Thierry Pascual, Armando Dias
  • Patent number: 7892165
    Abstract: A scope navigation apparatus, method and a program embodied computer readable medium for navigating a scope end that is to be inserted into an object. The scope end includes at least one sensor that senses a spatial location of the scope end. An image pickup device records one or more images of a calibration device, which includes a sensor that senses a location of the calibration device. A processor calibrates the images recorded by the image pickup device and corrects for intrinsic and extrinsic parameters using a calibration matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110040150
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a steerable invasive probe having a handle. The apparatus includes a platform and a jig, which is mounted on the platform and is configured to receive the handle. The jig includes at least a first gear that is positioned and shaped to rotate the handle about an axis of the probe and a second gear that is positioned and shaped to operate a control on the handle for deflecting a tip of the probe. A drive module includes one or more motors. A transmission is coupled to the drive module and to the jig so as to controllably rotate at least the first and second gears and to translate the platform along a direction parallel to the axis in order to advance and retract the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Andres Claudio Altmann, Yaron Ephrath, Christopher Thomas Beeckler
  • Patent number: 7885446
    Abstract: A system and method may detect a transition in an image stream captured within a body lumen. One or more parameters may be computed at points corresponding to a time scale of the image stream. Transition in the values of the parameters may be identified and may indicate a location along the body lumen. The image stream may be segmented at the transition points identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Eli Horn, Hagai Krupnik, Ofra Zinaty
  • Patent number: 7878971
    Abstract: An endoscope inserting direction method includes a first step of receiving endoscopic images time-sequentially, a second step of sampling pixels representing low densities from pixels of each of the endoscopic images which are time-sequentially received in the first step and a third step of determining whether or not number of pixels representing low densities which are sampled in the second step is equal to or larger than predetermined number of pixels. In a fourth step, if the number of pixels representing low densities is determined to be equal to or larger than the predetermined number of pixels in the third step, a position of the barycenter of the pixels representing low densities is obtained, and based on a change in the position of the barycenter of the pixels representing low densities of the time-sequentially received endoscopic images, a direction of a shift in the time-sequentially received plurality of endoscopic images is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nishimura, Tetsuo Nonami
  • Patent number: 7873400
    Abstract: An adapter can be easily used to assist a surgical navigation system to determine the effector axis or the effector plane of a surgical instrument. The adapter has a body with a geometrical feature, the geometrical feature has a known relation with a navigation tracker device that can be attached to the adapter. When the adapter is held against a surgical instrument in a non-fixed manner, the effector axis or the effector plane of the instrument can be tracked by the surgical navigation system. The method includes a calibration method to determine the known relation between the effector axis or the effector plane and the location of the navigation tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: José Luis Moctezuma De La Barrera, Markus Jan Boehringer, Amir Sarvestani
  • Patent number: 7871370
    Abstract: An endoscope shape monitoring system that is used to grasp a shape of a flexible insertion portion is provided that includes a position detector and a determining processor. The position detector detects a plurality of positions of the insertion portion along the central axis of the insertion portion at predetermined intervals. The determining processor determines the position of at least one of the central axis or an outline of the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7873402
    Abstract: A Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system whereby a magnetic tip attached to a surgical tool is detected, displayed and influenced positionally so as to allow diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be performed is described. The tools that can be so equipped include catheters, guidewires, and secondary tools such as lasers and balloons. The magnetic tip performs two functions. First, it allows the position and orientation of the tip to be determined by using a radar system such as, for example, a radar range finder or radar imaging system. Incorporating the radar system allows the CGCI apparatus to detect accurately the position, orientation and rotation of the surgical tool embedded in a patient during surgery. In one embodiment, the image generated by the radar is displayed with the operating room imagery equipment such as, for example, X-ray, Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound, MRI, CAT-Scan, PET-Scan, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Magnetecs, Inc.
    Inventor: Yehoshua Shachar
  • Publication number: 20110009697
    Abstract: A guiding system includes a capsule-type apparatus and a position controlling apparatus. The capsule-type apparatus includes a permanent magnet, which is fixed to a capsule-shaped casing, and is introduced into a subject. The position controlling apparatus includes a relative position controlling mechanism that changes a relative position between a predetermined axis and the subject, and a magnetic field generating mechanism that forms, in a space in which the subject is laid, a magnetic field that includes at least one of a component of a trapping magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet to the predetermined axis and a component of a gradient magnetic field that attracts the permanent magnet in a direction same as or opposite to a direction in which the relative position is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Hironao KAWANO, Atsushi CHIBA
  • Publication number: 20110004064
    Abstract: A capsule medical device capable of alleviating a burden on a patient is provided. Provided is a capsule medical device that includes a casing having a capsule shape; a measurement-information acquiring section, disposed in the casing, for acquiring measurement information from an examination site positioned outside the casing; a locating-information acquiring section for acquiring information for locating the examination site from which the measurement information has been acquired by the measurement-information acquiring section; and a storage section for storing the measurement information acquired by the measurement-information acquiring section in association with the information for locating the examination site, acquired by the locating-information acquiring section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushige ISHIHARA
  • Patent number: 7865229
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the path length through a body lumen, for example to a specified location, is described. A location detection system may identify the location in space of an in-vivo device over time. A path-length detection unit may use data from the location detection system to determine a path traveled by an in-vivo device. A site of interest along that path may be identified. The distance of the site of interest from at least one end point of a body lumen may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Given Imaging, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eli Horn
  • Patent number: 7864007
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to readily initiate an operation of a capsule medical apparatus which is inserted into a subject and executes a predetermined function. In a capsule endoscope 3 according to the present invention, a reed switch 14 connected to a power supply unit and a function executing unit is arranged parallel to a direction of a longitudinal axis t of a capsule-like casing 16 in the substantially cylindrical capsule-like casing 16 of the capsule endoscope 3. A pair of movable electrodes of the reed switch 14 operates according to magnetic induction of a magnetic field of a magnet 6 applied substantially parallel to the direction t of the longitudinal axis of the capsule-like casing 16, and come into contact with each other. As a result, power supply from the power supply unit to the function executing unit is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Fujimori, Koichi Shiotani
  • Patent number: 7857752
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus having an image conversion section including a coordinate-system converting section for converting an image in an orthogonal coordinate system to an image in a polar coordinate system, for geometrically converting a medical image of a tubular part in vivo picked up and obtained by the coordinate-system converting section; a squamocolumnar junction detecting section for detecting a squamocolumnar junction that is a junction between a squamous epithelium and a columnar epithelium on the image of the polar coordinate system; and an analyzing section for comparing an evaluation value for a feature value determined for the detected squamocolumnar junction and a predetermined reference value and calculating an analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hasegawa, Hirokazu Nishimura, Hideki Tanaka, Ryoko Inoue
  • Patent number: 7857753
    Abstract: A source coil drive circuit section of an endoscope shape detection device includes, an oscillator that generates a sine wave and an amplifier that amplifies the sine wave and generates (drives) an alternating magnetic field to source coils through a switch section. The switch section is configured to switch a direct current to an output of the amplifier and supply to the source coils. In the source coil drive circuit section, a direct current resistance value detection section for measuring a direct current resistance value of the source coils by voltage drop when the switch section is supplying the direct current to the source coils is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Onoda, Hiroshi Niwa, Tomohiko Oda, Minoru Sato, Kensuke Miyake, Yoshitaka Miyoshi, Kazutaka Tuji, Chieko Aizawa