IP Library Granted Patent US 8,764,632
Granted Patent B2
US 8,764,632 · App. 13/071,937 · Granted Jul 1, 2014

Endoscopic device and system

Inventors: Eric James Kezirian (San Francisco, CA); Robert Andrew Howard (Palo Alto, CA); Jonathan Patrick Summers (Pacifica, CA); Jeffrey William Servaites (San Francisco, CA); Matthew Charles Archer Durack (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Eric James Kezirian
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,764,632
App. No.
13/071,937
Granted
Jul 1, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscopic system may include a catheter or tubing and at least one optical sensor disposed along the catheter or tubing and configured to capture image information from a body lumen when disposed within the body lumen and activated. The system may further include an untethered module operatively arranged with the at least one optical sensor and configured to store or transmit image information captured by the at least one optical sensor. The catheter or tubing, at least one optical sensor and module may be portable during use.

Claims (17)

1. An endoscopic device comprising:

a catheter or tubing having at least two branches of unequal length and substantially same diameter extending from and fixed relative to a common joint; and

at least two optical sensors disposed on the branches and oriented in a same general direction such that the sensors are positioned at least 5 mm apart from each other on the branches to capture image information from different regions of a body lumen from the same general direction when disposed within the body lumen and activated.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least two optical sensors are positioned at least 10 mm apart from each other on the branches.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to alter at least one of an effective length of at least one of the branches and a distance between the image sensors.

4. An endoscopic device comprising:

a catheter or tubing having at least two branches of unequal length extending from and fixed relative to a common joint; and

at least two optical sensors disposed on the branches and oriented in a same general direction such that the sensors are positioned apart from each other on the branches such that image information from different regions of a body lumen partially or completely separated by an obstruction is captured when each of the at least two optical sensors is disposed within one of the regions and activated.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the at least two optical sensors are positioned at least 5 mm apart from each other on the branches.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the at least two optical sensors are positioned at least 10 mm apart from each other on the branches.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to alter at least one of an effective length of at least one of the branches and a distance between the image sensors.

8. An endoscopic device comprising:

a catheter or tubing having at least two branches of unequal length extending from and fixed relative to a common joint; and

at least two optical sensors disposed on the branches, oriented in a same general direction and positioned away from each other on the branches such that image information from each of a retropalatal region and retrolingual region of a patient's upper airway is captured when (i) one of the at least two optical sensors is disposed within the retropalatal region and another of the at least two optical sensors is disposed within the retrolingual region, and the retropalatal and retrolingual regions are at least partially separated by an obstruction and (ii) the at least two optical sensors are activated.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the at least two optical sensors are positioned at least 5 mm apart from each other on the branches.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the at least two optical sensors are positioned at least 10 mm apart from each other on the branches.

11. The device of claim 8 further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to alter at least one of an effective length of at least one of the branches and a distance between the image sensors.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2011
From: HOWARD, ROBERT ANDREW; SUMMERS, JONATHAN PATRICK; SERVAITES, JEFFREY WILLIAM; DURACK, MATTHEW CHARLES ARCHER
To: LUNAR DESIGN, INC.
Reel/Frame 026029/0390 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2011
From: LUNAR DESIGN, INC.
To: KEZIRIAN, ERIC JAMES
Reel/Frame 026029/0413 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61321911 · Apr 8, 2010
Related Publication 20110251457A1 · Oct 13, 2011