Granted Patent B2

US 12,471,756 · App. 16/881,663 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Inventor: James S. Titus (Sharon, MA)

Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation

A61B1/00126A61B1/00066A61B1/00096A61B1/00103A61B1/00137A61B1/018A61B1/053A61B1/07A61B17/00234A61B17/068G02B23/2423G02B23/2484A61B1/00101A61B2017/00296

Abstract

Claims (43)

1 . A device for visualizing a surface area within a patient, the device comprising:

an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end configured for coupling to an image display, a working channel and a distal end;

a coupler device having an attachment portion removably coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and a visualization portion having a semi-spherical outer surface and an interior portion extending from a first side of the semi-spherical outer surface to a second side of the semi-spherical outer surface and comprising an elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material configured to allow transmission of an optical image of the surface area through said material to the image display;

a working channel extension within the visualization portion having a proximal end for coupling to the working channel of the shaft and a distal end within the optically transparent material and proximal to the distal surface of the visualization portion; and

an imaging element disposed on, or with, the coupler device such that the imaging element is removably coupled to the elongate shaft.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the elongate shaft has a distal surface and the attachment portion of the coupler device substantially covers the distal surface.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the attachment portion completely encloses the distal surface.

4 . The device of claim 1 further comprising a connector configured to couple the imaging element to a power source.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging element comprises a light source.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the imaging element comprises a light emitting diode.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an optical lens for receiving reflected light from the surface area.

8 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising a connector coupled to the optical lens and configured to couple the optical lens to the image display system.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the optical lens is disposed within the elongate shaft.

10 . The device of claim 7 further comprising an image signaling cable extending through the elongate shaft and coupled to the optical lens.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion of the coupler device has a first outer diameter and the distal end of the elongate shaft has a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being greater than the second outer diameter.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coupler device has a longitudinal axis and wherein the optical image is a forward view substantially along the longitudinal axis.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the coupler device comprises a polyurethane material.

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the coupler device has an outer surface and includes an electrode on the outer surface.

15 . The device of claim 14 further comprising a connector extending through the elongate shaft and having a distal end coupled to the electrode and a proximal end configured for coupling to a power source.

16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the elongate shaft and the coupler device is formed as a single use portion.

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material is configured to be pierced by an instrument passing through the distal end of the working channel extension.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material is configured to be self-sealing.

19 . An endoscope system for visualizing a surface area within a patient, the system comprising:

an endoscope having an elongate flexible shaft with a proximal end configured for coupling to an image display and a working channel;

a distal end portion removably coupled to the shaft, the distal end portion including a distal surface with a visualization section having a semi-spherical outer surface and an interior portion extending from a first side of the semi-spherical outer surface to a second side of the semi-spherical outer surface and comprising an elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material for allowing transmission of an optical image from the surface area through said material in the distal end portion;

a working channel extension within the visualization portion having a proximal end for coupling to the working channel of the shaft and a distal end within the optically transparent material and proximal to the distal surface of the distal end portion; and

a light source within the distal end portion such that the light source is removably coupled to the endoscope.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the elongate flexible shaft has a distal surface and the distal end portion substantially covers the distal surface.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the distal end portion completely encloses the distal surface.

22 . The system of claim 19 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

23 . The system of claim 19 further comprising an imaging element and a connector coupled to the imaging element and extending through the shaft.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the imaging element comprises an optical lens.

25 . The system of claim 19 further comprising:

a fluid port on the distal end portion; and

a fluid channel within the elongate shaft coupled to the fluid port.

26 . The system of claim 19 further comprising:

an electrode on the distal end portion; and

a connector extending through the shaft and coupled to the electrode.

27 . The system of claim 19 further comprising:

an operation unit coupling the proximal end of the endoscope with the image display, the operation unit including a port coupled to the working channel for insertion of an instrument and a handle for operation by a user.

28 . The system of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the elongate flexible shaft and the distal end portion is formed as a single use portion.

29 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material is configured to be pierced by an instrument passing through the distal end of the working channel extension.

30 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the elastic, optically transparent semi-solid gel material is configured to be self-sealing.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (275)