METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXAMINING OR IMAGING AN INTERIOR SURFACE OF A CAVITY
A method for examining an interior surface of a cavity includes the steps of capturing partial images of an interior surface of a cavity; joining the captured partial images to form a complete image of said interior surface of the cavity; and providing an warning if the joined partial images does not form a complete image of said interior surface of the cavity.
1 - 60 . (canceled)
61 . An accessory device for a colonoscope, the device comprising:
an imaging device configured to capture images of an interior surface of a colon;
a positioning sensor for detecting positional information of the imaging device within the colon; and
a processing device in communication with the imaging device and positioning sensor, wherein the processing device is programmed to join the images using the positional information.
62 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the processing device comprises a memory capable of storing images and positional information.
63 . The device of claim 62 , wherein the memory is capable of storing the order in which images are captured.
64 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the positioning sensor is further configured to detect orientational information of the imaging device within the colon.
65 . The device of claim 64 , wherein the processing device is further programmed to join the images using the orientational information.
66 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the processing device is programmed to generate a complete image of the interior surface of a segment of the colon using the joined images.
67 . The device of claim 66 , wherein the processing device is programmed to detect and provide a warning if the joined images do not form a complete image of the interior surface of the segment of the colon.
68 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the positioning sensor comprises a magnetic positioning sensor.
69 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the positioning sensor comprises a RF positioning sensor.
70 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the positioning sensor comprises an optical positioning sensor.
71 . The device of claim 62 , wherein the processing device is further programmed to compare a newly captured image of the interior surface of the colon with the joined images.
72 . The device of claim 62 , wherein the processing device is further programmed to compare a newly captured image with an old image retrieved from the memory to identify changes in the interior surface of the colon.
73 . The device of claim 62 , wherein the processing device is further programmed to provide image and positional information to an operator so that the operator can return to a previously imaged location during a procedure.
74 . The device of claim 61 , wherein the processing device is programmed to recognize distinctive features of a segment of the colon.
75 . A method of using an accessory device for a colonoscope, the method comprising:
capturing images of an interior surface of a colon using imaging device of an accessory device for a colonoscope, wherein the accessory device further comprises a positioning sensor for detecting positional information of the imaging device within the colon, and a processing device in communication with the imaging device and the positioning sensor; and
joining the captured images using the processing device, wherein the processing device is programmed to join the captured images using the positional information.
76 . The method of claim 75 , wherein the processing device comprises a memory capable of storing images, positional information, and the order in which the images are captured.
77 . The method of claim 75 , further comprising clearing fluids from the colon prior to capturing images.
78 . The method of claim 75 , wherein an operator selects certain of the captured images to be joined by the processing device.
79 . The method of claim 75 , further comprising comparing a newly captured image of the interior surface of the colon with the joined images.
80 . The method of claim 76 , further comprising comparing a newly captured image with an old image retrieved from the memory to identify changes in the interior surface of the colon.
81 . The method of claim 80 , wherein comparing the newly captured image with the old image comprises identifying changes in polyp growth.
82 . The method of claim 75 , further comprising generating a complete image of the interior surface of a segment of the colon using the joined images.
83 . The method of claim 82 , further comprising detecting if the joined images do not form a complete image of the interior surface of the segment of the colon and generating a warning.
84 . The method of claim 75 , wherein the positioning sensor is configured to detect orientational information of the imaging device within the colon.
85 . The method of claim 84 , wherein the processing device is programmed to join the images using the orientational information.