Surgery – Endoscope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-03-20
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
C600S102000, C600S160000, C600S175000, C385S117000, C356S073100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203492
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for testing scopes and, in particular, scopes that are used to perform medical and surgical procedures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various lighted and unlighted scopes are presently available for conducting medical and surgical procedures. These include, for example, endoscopes, cystoscopes, arthroscopes, etc. Such scopes are extremely precise instruments that must be maintained in proper working condition. However, over time, most medical scopes tend to deteriorate and eventually exhibit problems. One or more of the lenses in the lens train are apt to become distorted or otherwise malfunction. Broken seals are also a common problem. Water droplets can collect on the lenses. Flexible scopes are particularly susceptible to lens damage. Constant flexing of the scope tends to bend, grind, crack and otherwise deform the lenses of the lens train. As a result, viewing through the scope is clouded or obscured. Typically such problems are discovered in the operating room or in other environments where the scope is being used. This can cause difficulties and delays in performing the required procedure. Currently there is no technique available for quickly, conveniently and inexpensively testing a scope between uses.
Most medical scopes are very expensive, typically costing thousands of dollars. Accordingly, a defective scope is normally tested and repaired, rather than discarded. To date, medical scopes are usually tested by first recording the view through the scope and then examining the scope lens by lens with a microscope to locate the defective lens or lenses. This requires that the scope and its lenses be disassembled, inspected, repaired and/or replaced. A large repair bill usually results. The cost for a hospital or other medical institution to maintain a number of scopes can be enormous.
The expense and difficulty of examining and repairing fiberoptic scopes is compounded because of the uncertainty and difficulty involved in locating the particular lens or lenses that are causing the problem. It is virtually impossible to accurately locate the precise defect without completely disassembling the scope and examine each individual lens. This is an incredibly time consuming and inefficient process that adds significantly to the cost of maintaining the scope.
A significant number of fiberoptic scopes also exhibit broken or otherwise defective fibers. Over time, the light transmitting fibers gradually weaken and eventually break. This is a particularly serious problem when flexible scopes are involved. Broken fibers cause the scope to transmit much less light. As a result, surgery and other medical procedures are poorly illuminated.
To date, the fibers of a medical scope have been tested primarily by “eye balling” the light output. This involves considerable guesswork and imprecision. Currently, there is no efficient tester available for quickly, accurately and conveniently testing both the lens train and the light carrying fibers of a medical scope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a test apparatus for quickly, conveniently and accurately examining the lens train in a scope so that the source of an optical problem can be located by the user before the scope is put into use and before the scope is sent out for repairs.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a scope tester that permits both the lenses and the light carrying fibers of a scope to be examined in a quick, convenient and accurate manner so that repairs may be performed relatively quickly, efficiently and inexpensively.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a scope tester that is particularly effective for use with scopes used in the medical industry and which significantly improves the efficiency of procedures involving such scopes.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fiberoptic scope tester that enables the user to determine the precise location of a defective lens in the scope before the scope is disassembled.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fiberoptic scope tester that is operating room ready and that allows a defective scope to be found between uses of the scope so that delays and inefficiency are reduced.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a fiberoptic scope tester that is effective for use with virtually all types of scopes and which is particularly suited for use with flexible scopes.
This invention features a device for examining a scope of the type that includes an eyepiece, an elongate scope body connected to and generally optically aligned with the eyepiece and a plurality of generally optically aligned lens disposed within the scope body and optically communicating with the eyepiece. The scope examining device includes a holder that supports the scope such that the eyepiece of the scope is exposed by the holder. A focusing member is telescopically interengaged with the holder. An inspection eyepiece assembly is mounted in the focusing member. The inspection eyepiece assembly includes a magnifying lens that faces and optically communicates with the eyepiece of a scope supported by the holder. The focusing member and the holder are telescopically adjusted relative to one another to focus the magnifying lens of the inspection eyepiece assembly on a selected lens of the scope. As a result, an image of the selected lens is transmitted through the inspection eyepiece assembly and examined.
In a preferred embodiment, the holder and the focusing member comprise generally cylindrical elements. The holder and focusing member may be slidably interengaged. The holder may include a chamber that receives the scope. The chamber may have an open end that exposes to the inspection eyepiece the eyepiece of a scope received in the chamber. The holder may include a generally cylindrical holder body and a cap that is selectively disengaged from the holder body to introduce the scope into the chamber.
The focusing member may comprise a cylindrical element and the inspection eyepiece may include a viewing element having a viewing aperture formed therein and a lens holder attached to the viewing element and supporting the magnifying lens in generally optical alignment with the viewing aperture.
The scope examining device may further include a fiber testing assembly comprising a body having an inlet, an outlet and a passageway that transmits light from the inlet to the outlet. The fiber inspection body may be mounted telescopically to the holder such that the inlet faces a distal, light emitting portion of the body of a scope supported by the holder. The fiber testing assembly may further include a magnifying and focusing lens assembly mounted in the passageway. The fiber inspection body is telescopically adjusted relative to the holder such that light projected from the light emitting portion of the body of a scope supported by the holder is transmitted by the magnifying and focusing lens and emitted by the outlet of the fiber inspection body onto a target area. The body of the fiber testing assembly may be threadably interengaged with the holder and, more particularly, may be mounted in the chamber of the holder through an opening in the end of the holder opposite the open end that exposes the eyepiece of the scope. The body of the fiber testing assembly may be threadably interengaged with the holder. The body and the holder may have generally cylindrical configurations. One of the body and the holder may include a helical track and the other of the body and the holder may include bearing means for slidably interengaging the track to permit the body to the telescopically adjusted relative to the holder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5953112 (1999-09-01), Rosow et al.
patent: 5966210 (1999-10-01), Rosow et al.
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Noonan William E.
Ram Jocelyn Debra
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