Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a system for use in surgical procedures. The system includes an endoscope; an imaging device coupled to the endoscope; an imaging processor coupled to the imaging device; and at least one management system coupled to the imaging processor, wherein a function of the management system is automatically adjusted upon receipt of a communication from the imaging processor. A method of adjusting an image of a surgical site during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/710,431 filed on Feb. 23, 2010 which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/157,391 filed on Mar. 4, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to systems for use in surgical procedures, such as endoscopic surgeries. 
     2. Related Art 
     Currently, during a surgical procedure, such as an endoscopic surgical procedure, an optical image from the surgical site is captured by an endoscope. The image is transmitted to an imaging device, such as a camera, that is coupled to the endoscope, processed, and then transmitted by the device to an imaging processor, such as a camera control unit. The imaging processor further processes the image before transmitting it to a display unit, such as a monitor. The image on the monitor is closely watched by the operating room staff so that when the image becomes unclear, manual adjustments can be made to restore a clear view of the image. For example, when bleeding occurs at the site and the image turns red, the surgeon, or another member of the surgical staff, makes manual adjustments to a fluid management unit, such as a fluid pump, in order to irrigate the site and restore the clear view of the image. This manual activity requires time and resources, thereby extending the amount of time the staff spends performing the surgery. 
     Therefore, a system is needed that allows for the imaging processor to detect when the image becomes unclear and responds by automatically communicating this information to, for example, a fluid management system, so that automatic adjustments can be made to the fluid management system in order to restore a clear image of the surgical site. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for use in surgical procedures. The system includes an endoscope; an imaging device coupled to the endoscope; an imaging processor coupled to the imaging device; and at least one management system coupled to the imaging processor, wherein a function of the management system is automatically adjusted upon receipt of a communication from the imaging processor. 
     In an embodiment, the endoscope is capable of transmitting an optical image to the imaging device. In another embodiment, the imaging device processes the optical image and transmits the image to the imaging processor. In yet another embodiment, the system further includes a display unit coupled to the imaging processor, wherein the imaging processor further processes the image and transmits the image to the display unit. In a further embodiment, adjustments to the management system allow for adjustments to the image transmitted to the display unit. In yet a further embodiment, the imaging device includes a camera. In an embodiment, the imaging processor includes a camera control unit. In another embodiment, the at least one management system includes a fluid management system. 
     In yet another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of adjusting an image of a surgical site during a surgical procedure. The method includes providing an endoscopic system comprising an endoscope; an imaging device coupled to the endoscope; an imaging processor coupled to the imaging device; at least one management system coupled to the imaging processor; and a display unit coupled to the imaging processor; and obtaining an image of the surgical site by viewing the surgical site with the endoscope, the image being transmitted by the imaging processor to the display unit, wherein a function of the management system is automatically adjusted upon receipt of a communication from the imaging processor, the adjustments to the management system allowing for adjustments to the image. 
     In an embodiment, the at least one management system includes a fluid management system. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the written description serve to explain the principles, characteristics, and features of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the system of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the system  10  of the present disclosure in use during endoscopic surgery. The system  10  includes an endoscope  11  with a first end  11   a  and a second end  11   b . The first end  11   a  of the endoscope  11  is disposed within a body cavity  20 , such as a joint cavity, and an imaging device  12 , such as a camera, is coupled to the second end  11   b  of the endoscope  11 . An imaging processor  13 , such as a camera control unit, is coupled to the camera  12  via coupling means  30 , such as a cable. 
     Coupled to the imaging processor  13  via separate coupling means  40 , 50  are a display unit  14 , such as a monitor, and a management system  15 , such as a fluid management system. The fluid management system  15  includes a fluid pump  15   a  and fluid inflow/fluid outflow lines  15   b , 15   c  coupled to the pump  15   a . For the purposes of this disclosure, a single cartridge system that includes lines for both the inflow and the outflow is used. The cartridge is coupled to the pump  15   a  via coupling means. However, other systems may be used. A fluid source  15   d , such as a saline bag or other fluid source, is coupled to the pump  15   a , via a first tubing  15   f  and a waste container  15   g  is coupled to the pump  15   a  via a second tubing  15   h.    
     During a surgical procedure, an optical image from the surgical site  20  is captured by optical lenses that are located within the endoscope  11 . The image is transmitted to the camera  12 , specifically to a sensor located within the camera  12 , and is processed by the sensor resulting in an analog video signal. The analog video signal is converted to a digital video signal by an analog to digital converter, also located within the camera  12 . The converter may be any analog to digital converter known to one of skill in the art. In addition to the converter, the camera  12  optionally may include a serializer-deserializer (SERDES). If the normal camera readout speed is maintained and the digital video signal is sent to the camera control unit  13  in parallel, an increase in the diameter of the coupling means  30  may be required, which may cause the coupling means  30  to be too large and inflexible. The use of a SERDES substantially reduces this possibility by serializing the signal and increasing the serial transmission rate. 
     Once the digital video signal is transmitted to the camera control unit  13 , the signal is processed by a digital video signal processor located within the unit  13 . The processed signal is then transmitted via the coupling means  40  to the monitor. 
     The digital video signal processor subdivides each field of data, contained within the signal, into regions of interest. Statistical information regarding these regions are provided by the processor to a microprocessor or video processor, which is also contained within the unit  13  and interfaces with the processor via a memory mapped interface. Other interfaces may also be used. The statistical information includes, but is not limited to Red, Green, Blue (RGB) value. The microprocessor converts the RGB value into Hue/Saturation/Value (HSV), via algorithms and other code that is stored within the microprocessor. Color space other than HSV, such as L*AB, may be converted from the RGB value. Subsequently, the microprocessor uses this HSV information to detect the presence and location of blood at the surgical area  20  by color (Hue) and determine the concentration of this blood by the intensity of color (Saturation). Once the concentration of the blood becomes high enough that the image on the monitor becomes unclear, this unclear image information will be automatically downloaded, via the coupling means  50 , by the control unit microprocessor to a microprocessor located in the fluid management system  15 . 
     Upon receipt of this information, a function of the fluid management system  15 , such as fluid inflow or fluid outflow, is automatically adjusted to create a clear view of the image. For example, when bleeding occurs at the site  20  and the image turns red, the unit  13  downloads this information to the fluid management system  15  and pre-determined adjustments to the pump  15   a  pressure settings may be made. For example, fluid inflow to the site  20 , via the fluid inflow line  15   b , may occur in order to irrigate the site  20  and restore the clear view of the image. Alternatively, fluid outflow from the site  20 , via the fluid outflow line  15   c , may occur in order to withdraw fluid and restore the clear view of the image. These adjusted settings may last for a pre-determined length of time and automatically revert to the preceding settings or the adjusted settings may prevail until such time that the camera control unit  13  detects the level of red within the image to be below a pre-determined level, thereby sending a signal to the pump  15   a  to return its settings to the previous levels. 
     Furthermore, differential analysis of the statistics by the control unit microprocessor may help to distinguish between static red objects and moving objects, such as blood, at the surgical area  20 . The microprocessor may evaluate the statistics per data field and/or process the differential change over multiple data fields to control the rate of fluid inflow and fluid outflow to and from the surgical area  20 . Also, once the control unit  13  provides information to the fluid management system  15  that will actuate the system  15  (i.e., cause fluid inflow or fluid outflow to or from the area  20 ), the system  15  may send a communication to the unit  13  confirming receipt of this information and actuation of the system  15 . In this respect, the communication between the control unit  13  and the fluid management system  15  constitutes a closed loop control system. Furthermore, once the unit  13  receives this confirmation, the unit  13  may subsequently send information about this actuation to the monitor  14 , such that an on screen display is showcased on the monitor, thereby allowing the user to know that the system  15  was actuated. 
     Also, rather than transmitting information via cables  30 , 40 , 50 , the transmission may be wireless via the use of radio frequency technology or other wireless technology. The communication software protocol used by the control unit  13  and the fluid management system  15  to communicate may be, but is not limited to, RS232 or TCP/IP. 
     In addition to the recognition of redness within the image, other colors or image attributes may be detected by the unit  13  for various other surgical reasons and automatically communicated to the fluid management system  15 . Furthermore, other management systems and devices including, but not limited to, shaver control units, radiofrequency generators, and gas insufflators may be coupled to the unit  13  for detection and subsequent communication of attributes for recognition. For instance, a gas insufflator may be coupled to the unit  13  so that, during surgery, debris, such as tissue particles and air bubbles, may be detected by the unit  13  and communicated, via a signal, to the insufflator. Upon receipt of this information by the insufflator, pre-determined adjustments to the insufflator pressure settings may be made. For example, inflow of air or some other medical substance to the site  20  may occur in order to free the site  20  of debris and restore the clear view of the image. 
     As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.