Patent ID: 6770027
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,G06Q,G16H,G16Z

Abstract:
A method of examining a body lumen comprising:providing an operator with an endoscope apparatus, said endoscope apparatus comprising: (a) an endoscope portion, which further comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of said endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators controlling operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators; and (b) a control and display unit comprising: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in said endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via said first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from said sensor via said first and second wireless transceivers; inserting said endoscope portion of said endoscope apparatus into a body lumen while controlling the shape of said endoscope portion using said control portion; and examining said body lumen using said sensor of said endoscope portion, wherein said endoscope apparatus further comprises a remote server coupled to the control and display unit, and wherein said remote server is adapted to track endoscope inventory.