Abstract:
A probe controller is integral with a gripper for the probe&#39;s insertion tube. The gripper is easily operated with one hand, permitting a user to hold, release, and insert the insertion tube with the same hand that operates the controls on the controller, thus freeing the user&#39;s other hand to feed the insertion tube into the opening, perform other operations, or optionally to operate the controls.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of endoscope/borescope controllers, and more particularly to a tube gripper integral with a controller for an endoscope/borescope. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Video endoscopes or borescopes, hereinafter referred to as probes, generally have a flexible insertion tube with a diameter of one inch or less. The tube is usually pushed into inaccessible areas so they can be visually inspected. Feeding the insertion tube into an area is difficult with one hand as the tube tends to slide out of the area of interest when it is released. One hand is often used to hold the position of the insertion tube steady as the other hand moves down the tube in preparation for the next push. Most video probes also have a control section which has controls for articulating the tip of the probe as well as buttons for activating other system functions. Control sections of this type are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,317 to Salvati et al. These control sections are hand-held units that include a console having a joystick or similar user-actuable means that is interconnected to contained servo or stepper motors to articulation cables that can control the movement of the distal bending section of the insertion tube (e.g., the probe). Additionally, an electronic control circuit, also within the housing of the control unit, which can include a microprocessor is provided. This control circuit is interconnected to the joystick or trackball as well as to at least one user-actuable button or key switch in order to control aspects of the video probe such as to image freeze or capture modes, brightness, image manipulation and the like relative to an integral display screen. This control circuit can also control a cursor and cursor movement on the screen relating to movement of the probe. Additional control circuitry can be contained in a remote unit or within the hand-held control section. Presently, it is difficult for the user to hold and/or use a control section, as described above, while pushing the insertion tube. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, a probe controller is integral with a gripper for the probes&#39;s insertion tube. The gripper is easily operated with one hand, permitting a user to hold, release, and insert the insertion tube with the same hand that operates the controls on the controller, thus freeing the user&#39;s other hand to feed the insertion tube into the opening, perform other operations, or optionally to operate the controls. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, a tube gripper for a probe includes a tube channel running lengthwise through the tube gripper for receiving an insertion tube of the probe; control means, integral with the tube gripper, for controlling at least one function of the probe; and gripping means for frictionally connecting the tube gripper to the insertion tube. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 shows a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with a display mounted on a front portion thereof; 
     FIG. 6 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with a display mounted on a rear portion thereof; and 
     FIG. 7 shows a top view of an embodiment of the invention with a display mounted on a side portion thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-2, an embodiment of an insertion tube gripper  10  includes a tube channel  12  running throughout its length. Tube channel  12  is preferably sized to accommodate a typical insertion tube  11  of a probe. A front portion  14  of tube gripper  10  contains various probe controls such as a joystick  20  and control buttons  22 . Other possible controls include a track ball, mouse, touch screen, etc. A rear portion  16  of tube gripper  10  optionally includes a wired connection  24  to a probe base station  29 . Alternatively, rear portion  16  contains a small radio transceiver  26  with an antenna  27  for wireless communication to probe base station  29 . Connector  24  or transceiver  26  is preferably connected to a joystick  20  and control buttons  22  via a cable or cables  28 . Power may be provided to the probe controls via wired connection  24  or using a battery. 
     Insertion tube  11  only carries the raw video signal from the imager of the probe to base station  29 . The viewable video is sent from base station  29  to the probe controls either via RF or wired link in either analog or digital format. 
     Functions and settings controlled by joystick  20  may include articulation of the tip of the endoscope, menu navigation, text entry, image panning, image selection, cursor positioning, text positioning, zoom level, illumination level, image brightness control, or other such functions. Control buttons  22  may provide any of the possible joystick-controlled functions plus others such as controlling image inversion, image storage/recall, enter/cancel functions, articulation mode changes, video switching control, measurement initiation/selection, operating mode selection and the like. Joystick  20  may also include an integral pushbutton which may provide any of the control-button functions. Another control mechanism may be used in place of joystick  20  such as a mouse pad or track ball. A single board preferably located in the joystick/button area would preferably hold the control mechanisms, such as joystick  20  and control buttons  22 , as well as transceiver  26  and a microprocessor (not shown) if desired. 
     A middle portion  18  of tube gripper  10  is preferably shaped to accommodate a user&#39;s hand, with a molded portion  30  conforming to the user&#39;s fingers as they are wrapped around tube gripper  10 . In middle portion  18 , tube channel  12  is exposed to the outside so that at least one of the user&#39;s fingers or thumbs grips insertion tube  11  directly. The user then slides tube gripper  10  up and down insertion tube  11  as desired. 
     An optional video display connector  15  permits attaching a video display  40  (FIGS.  5 - 7 ), thus allowing video display  40  to be located near the user and connected via a cable to tube gripper  10  such that the cable need not be run back to probe base station  29 . Connector  15  could attach in a number of places including the front end near the control buttons, the rear, or to the side. An optional microphone  21  permits comment recording and voice control. An optional speaker  17  permits playback of comments and/or button activation feedback. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, in an alternate embodiment, tube channel  12  is not exposed to the outside in middle portion  18 , but a mechanical gripping mechanism  32 , located in middle portion  18  or front portion  14 , is connected to a thumb trigger  33  by a mechanical linkage  35 . Depressing thumb trigger  33  causes gripping mechanism  32  to clamp onto insertion tube  11 . Alternately, releasing thumb trigger  33  causes gripping mechanism  32  to release insertion tube  11 . Gripping mechanism  32  may also be designed such that depressing thumb trigger  33  releases insertion tube  11 , and releasing thumb trigger  33  causes gripping mechanism  32  to clamp onto insertion tube  11 . Molded portion  30  optionally includes a thumb rest  19 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2, tube channel  12  is not exposed to the outside in middle portion  18 , but a mechanical gripping mechanism  32 , preferably located in front portion  14 , is connected to a finger trigger  34  by a mechanical linkage  36 . Depressing finger trigger  34  causes gripping mechanism  32  to clamp onto insertion tube  11 . Alternately, releasing finger trigger  34  causes gripping mechanism  32  to release insertion tube  11 . Mechanical linkage  36  is optionally located in rear portion  16  of tube gripper  10 . Gripping mechanism  32  may also be designed such that depressing finger trigger  34  releases insertion tube  11 , and releasing finger trigger  34  causes gripping mechanism  32  to clamp onto insertion tube  11 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment has neither an exposed tube channel nor a finger trigger. Instead, fixed or adjustable friction applicators  38  are located within tube channel  12  which provide steady friction between tube gripper  10  and insertion tube  11 . Friction applicators could be small brushes or other materials which have a lower sliding coefficient of friction than static coefficient of friction. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a display  40  is shown mounted on front portion  14  of tube gripper  10 . In FIG. 6, display  40  is shown mounted on rear portion  16  of tube gripper  10 . In FIG. 7, display  40  is shown side mounted onto tube gripper  10 . The purpose of these different mounting positions is so that display  40  is in the same vicinity as the controls, so that users don&#39;t have to turn their head/body to look from the controls to display  40 . The controls and display  40  can also be close to the port through which the probe is inserted to further reduce head/eye/body movement. 
     In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, channel  12  of tube gripper  10  optionally opens along a seam on the underside of tube gripper  10  which allows the user to clamp tube gripper  10  onto insertion tube  11 . Tube channel  12  may require that insertion tube  11  be inserted from the front or rear of the device. Alternatively, an access panel may be provided which, when opened, allows insertion tube  11  to be placed in tube channel  12  at any point along insertion tube  11 . Tube channel  12  may also contain flexible or movable components between the tube channel itself and the bottom side of the gripper/controller through which insertion tube  11  may be forced to place insertion tube  11  in tube channel  12  thus allowing the gripper/controller to be attached to insertion tube  11  at any point. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and that various modifications and the like could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.