Surgery – Endoscope – Having imaging and illumination means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-01
2004-06-01
Gibson, Roy D. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Endoscope
Having imaging and illumination means
C600S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06743168
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscopic system and method of use and, more particularly, an endoscopic system and method useful in eye surgery for illuminating, viewing, lasing and washing an area of an eye of a patient to be operated upon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART
The use of endoscopes and other surgical devices of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art.
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,093,719 to Prescott entitled Endoscopic Gradient Index Optical Systems. This patent discloses gradient index endoscopic or borescopic systems in forms ranging from basic to more complex depending on the optical task. The basic form comprises a gradient index objective of less than a quarter period in length followed by a gradient index relay whose length is at least one-quarter period longer than the distance of the first image of the object into the relay. The numerical aperture of the objective is preferably larger than that of the relay to provide a wide angle endoscope with an entrance aperture tunnel preceding the objective. In one embodiment with a line-of-view prism, the entrance tunnel is placed in the most restricted aperture within the prism thus minimizing or eliminating vignetting of the field of view. A second embodiment of this subsystem is an endomicroscope wherein the entrance pupil moves and changes size as the ocular focus of the system is changed. The endoscope retains the maximum possible Lagrangian of the system as limited by the numerical aperture and diameter of the relay for all foci. The prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,887 to Leon entitled Microscope-Endoscope Assembly Especially Usable in Surgery. This patent relates to an optical assembly comprising a microscope including a binocular with a pair of oculars, an optical body and an objective lens and an optical path; and an endoscope provided with an extension, an outlet ocular, and an optical path. A commutating modulus is disposed between the binocular and the optical body of the microscope and the outlet ocular of the endoscope so as to enable an observer whose eyes are located at each ocular of the microscope to observe selectively either (a) the optical path of the microscope or (b) the optical, or electronic, path of the endoscope or (c) both optical paths simultaneously to scan an object to be investigated.
In this respect, the endoscope system of the present invention departs substantially from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides a method and apparatus with selectively uncouplable and couplable components primarily developed for the purpose of illuminating and/or viewing and/or lasing and/or washing an area of a patient, such as en eye, to be operated upon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a new and improved endoscope system and method of use for illuminating, viewing, lasing, and washing an eye area of a patient being operated upon comprising, in combination a distally positioned needle component in a generally cylindrical configuration. The needle portion has a distal face and a centrally located tubular needle with a major bore extending distally therefrom and a generally planar proximal face. The major bore has four minor bores axially aligned within the major bore. The proximal face has a plurality of proximally extending tubes including an enlarged viewing tube with an observation bore axially aligned with the major bore of the needle and with two supplemental tubes extending proximally from the proximal face. Each supplemental tube has a bore and an additional tube extending laterally from the needle component. The additional tube is couplable proximal to a source of washing fluid. The first minor bore is in axial alignment with the observation bore with a first lens within the first minor bore and observation bore with the first lens adapted to transmit optical images from the distal end of the needle to the proximal end of the observation tube. The second minor bore and a supplemental tube are coupled through a first angled transistion bore and contain first optical strands for effecting illumination at the distal end of the needle. The third minor bore and the other supplemental tube are coupled through a second angled transistion bore and contain a second optical strand for lasing or fluid infusing. A proximally positioned handle component has a proximal end and an essentially flat distal end with a plurality of axially aligned bores therethrough. It includes a central bore in axial alignment with the observation bore of the needle portion for the receipt of the main tube terminating at the proximal end with internal threaded recess for the removable receipt of a viewing instrument. A second lens is located within the central bore in optical communication with the first lens of the needle component and illumination fibers within one of the supplemental bores in optical alignment with the illumination fibers of the needle component. A lasing fiber or infusion tube is located in the other of the supplemental bores in optical alignment with the lasing fiber of the needle component. The bores at the distal end of the handle component are sized for the receipt of the observation tube and supplemental tubes of the needle component. A bayonet type connector enables rapid separation of the needle component to the handle component. A pivotable locking level prevents separation of the components during use. The handle includes an electric motor-driven focusing assembly to enable the user to rapidly change focus while using the device. Also included is the method of using an endoscope system which includes the step of providing the components as described above including the further step of uncoupling and coupling the needle and handle components as may be required for a particular application.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved endoscope system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art surgical devices of known designs and configurations but with added capabilities.
It is another object of the present invention to selectively uncouple and couple components of an endoscope system to meet the requirements of a particular application.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved endoscope system which is of a durable and reliable construction.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to tailor miniaturized surgical systems for illuminating and/or viewing and/or lasing and/or cleaning as needed for a required observation or treatment.
Annen Michael
Luloh K. Peter
Beusse James H.
Beusse Brownlee Wolter Mora & Maire P.A.
Gibson Roy D.
Insight Instruments, Inc.
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