Cannula with integrated camera and illumination

1. A cannula assembly comprising:

a tubular element forming a first lumen, the tubular element having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to be inserted into a body cavity;

a subassembly releasably attached to the tubular element, the subassembly comprising a deployable element disposed proximate the distal end of the tubular element, wherein the deployable element is adapted for movement between a closed position which substantially obstructs the first lumen and an open position which does not substantially obstruct the first lumen, wherein the deployable element remains coupled to the tubular element in the closed and open positions, and wherein at least one of the subassembly and the tubular element comprises at least two multi-axis accelerometers;

an electronic component coupled to the deployable element, wherein the electronic component comprises at least one imaging device and at least one illumination source, and wherein the subassembly, including the deployable element and the electronic component, are releasable from the tubular element; and

an ancillary electronics module comprising a processor adapted to generate images with a selectable horizon based on inputs from the multi-axis accelerometers and the imaging device, wherein the ancillary electronics module is adapted to determine an angle of deployment of the deployable element with respect to the tubular element based upon inputs from the multi-axis accelerometers.

2. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular element comprises a proximal sealing element adapted to maintain a fluid seal within the first lumen.

3. The cannula assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second lumen adapted for the passage of fluids.

4. The cannula assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second lumen is disposed within the tubular element.

5. The cannula assembly of claim 3 further comprising a movable tube having a flexible distal end disposed within the second lumen.

6. The cannula assembly of claim 3 further comprising a movable tube having an occluded distal tip forming at least one side aperture disposed within the second lumen.

7. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein the subassembly is adapted to be cleaned, sterilized, and reused.

8. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electronic component further comprises a heat source.

9. The cannula assembly of claim 8 , wherein the heat source is selected from the group consisting of an electric resistive heating element, an emitter of electromagnetic energy, and combinations thereof.

10. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the imaging device and the illumination source is adapted to be operable in the closed position.

11. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the imaging device and the illumination source is adapted to be operable in the open position.

12. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deployable element further comprises a hinge.

13. The cannula assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hinge is adapted for movement from the open position to the closed position when the cannula assembly is being removed from a body in the open position.

14. The cannula assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hinge is adapted to maintain the deployable element in a defined position.

15. The cannula assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deployable element further comprises a movable element adapted to selectively cover at least one of the imaging device and the illumination source.

16. The cannula assembly of claim 15 further comprising a linkage coupled to the movable element adapted to control movement of the movable element.

17. The cannula assembly of claim 15 , wherein the movable element is transparent to visible light.

18. The cannula assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controllable locking mechanism adapted to maintain positioning of a tool disposed within the first lumen.

19. A method of using a cannula assembly comprising:

inserting a tubular element forming a first lumen and a subassembly releasably attached to the tubular element into a body cavity, wherein the tubular element has a proximal end and a distal end;

actuating a substantially cylindrical deployable element of the subassembly from a closed position substantially obstructing the lumen to an open position, wherein an electronic component mounted to the deployable element comprises at least one imaging device for providing a forward view during insertion;

receiving inputs from at least two multi-axis accelerometers;

processing the inputs with an ancillary electronics module to determine an angle of deployment of the deployable element with respect to the tubular element;

inserting an instrument into the lumen for performing a surgical procedure; and

removing the tubular element and the subassembly from the body cavity.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising locking the instrument in the lumen.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the electronic component further comprises at least one radially facing imaging device and at least one radially facing illumination source.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

processing inputs from at least one multi-axis accelerometer and the at least one imaging device with the ancillary electronics module to generate an image with a selectable horizon.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

separating the tubular element from the subassembly; and

releasably attaching a new tubular element to the subassembly.