Light source power based on predetermined sensed condition

1. A medical instrument comprising:

a. one or more image sensors that monitor a state of activity;

b. a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system, comprising:

i. a light source for illuminating an intracorporeal target area and

ii. an associated power controller,

wherein the power controller moves the lighting system from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on an input into the lighting system of a predetermined condition from the one or more image sensors indicative of whether or not the instrument is in active use,

wherein the input is a change in the state of activity or a lack of change in the state of activity;

wherein the instrument senses a predetermined change of temperature; and

wherein the predetermined change of temperature is the input into the lighting system so that the power controller makes a predetermined change in power to the light source based on the change in temperature.

2. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a handheld instrument and the light source is disposed within a housing that comprises the handle of the instrument.

3. The medical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the instrument is battery powered.

4. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope having a solid state light source on or in the instrument for illuminating a target area.

5. The medical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the light source is disposed in a handle portion of the endoscope.

6. The medical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the light source is disposed in a distal insertion end of the endoscope.

7. The medical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope.

8. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument comprises an endoscope and the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope.

9. The medical instrument claim 1 , wherein the system maintains a temperature of a surface of the instrument held or otherwise contacted by a user at a temperature of below about 40 degrees C.

10. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the input comprises a signal from a piezoelectric sensor or an accelerometer associated with the instrument.

11. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the state of activity is a change in scene.

12. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument includes a timer and the power controller moves the lighting system from the first illumination mode to the second illumination mode when the change in scene has not occurred over a period of one minute.

13. The medical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument includes a processor that checks topological characteristics of a region proximal to the distal end of the endoscope so that the processor determines whether the distal end is inside a lumen or whether the distal end is within a chamber by analyzing characteristics of images from the one or more image sensors.

14. A medical instrument comprising:

a. one or more image sensors that monitor a state of activity;

b. a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system, comprising:

i. a light source for illuminating an intracorporeal target area and

ii. an associated power controller,

wherein the power controller moves the lighting system from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on an input into the lighting system of a predetermined condition from the one or more image sensors indicative of whether or not the instrument is in active use,

wherein the input is a change in the state of activity or a lack of change in the state of activity;

wherein the image sensor includes a set of predetermined pixels that provide signals that are processed by a camera control unit to determine whether the state of activity that is monitored has a predetermined change;

wherein the instrument senses a predetermined change of temperature; and

wherein the predetermined change of temperature is the input into the lighting system so that the power controller makes a predetermined change in power to the light source based on the change in temperature.

15. The medical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the medical instrument is a handheld instrument and the light source is disposed within a housing that comprises the handle of the instrument, and the instrument comprises an endoscope having a solid state light source on or in the instrument for illuminating a target area.

16. The medical instrument of claim 15 , wherein the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope.

17. The medical instrument of claim 16 , wherein the medical instrument includes a processor that checks topological characteristics of a region proximal to the distal end of the endoscope so that the processor determines whether the distal end is inside a lumen or whether the distal end is within a chamber by analyzing characteristics of images from the one or more image sensors.

18. The medical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the medical instrument includes an insertion rube that is coupled to the camera control unit, and

wherein video images generated by the camera control unit are displayed on a video display device.

19. The medical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope.

20. The medical instrument of claim 14 , wherein the medical instrument includes a processor that checks topological characteristics of a region proximal to the distal end of the endoscope so that the processor determines whether the distal end is inside a lumen or whether the distal end is within a chamber by analyzing characteristics of images from the one or more image sensors.