Abstract:
An endoscope includes a body defining a bore that extends therethrough. A number of fiber optic cables extend at least partially through the body and terminate adjacent one end of the bore. The number of fiber optic cables includes a first subset having their ends opposite the body coupled to a light source. The number of fiber optic cables can also include one or more additional subsets having their ends opposite the body coupled to a viewer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/359,577, filed Feb. 25, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus to facilitate viewing of objects in confined spaces.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Advances in endoscopy have been critical to developing minimally invasive surgery in a broad array of surgical disciplines including general surgery, gynecology, urology, plastic surgery, laryngology and rhinology. The basic principles involve illumination through specially designed lighted rigid tubes which encompass a high quality optic system.  
           [0006]    These endoscopes permit visualization of instrumentation disposed adjacent the endoscope. In abdominal surgery, the surgeon has the breadth of the abdominal cavity in which to manipulate an instrument. Even in narrower spaces, such as the paranasal sinuses, surgeons are able to manage aggressive disease with minimal external incisions—a sharp contrast to previous techniques.  
           [0007]    Ear surgery has not benefited as significantly as other disciplines. Although endoscopes have been proposed as adjuncts to routine open microscopic approaches, otologic endoscopy has not replaced standard binocular microscopy as the illumination/visualization technique of choice for most ear surgical procedures. Specific aspects of ear surgery that have delayed the evolution of endoscopic otologic techniques include:  
           [0008]    1. Size: Anatomically, the spaces of the ear are small and rigidly confined. The ear canal varies in diameter from 4-8 mm on average. Thus, even a narrow diameter endoscope occupies a significant percentage of the lumen and obstructs passage of instruments adjacent the endoscope;  
           [0009]    2. Stability: No standard system exists for supporting the endoscope in the ear canal or mastoid to permit bimanual instrumentation during endoscopic viewing of the ear. Ear speculum holders are not designed to support the weight of an endoscope and slippage is common. Holding the endoscope with one hand and manipulating an instrument with the other, such as commonly done in sinus endoscopy, is not practical because of the microscopic structures under consideration. Bimanual, stable visualization and instrumentation is critical for surgery of the ossicular chain;  
           [0010]    3. Visualization: As surgeons have tried smaller endoscopes, the problem of visualization develops. First, image quality erodes if the endoscope is too small. But the main problem is that the surgeon can block the view of the surgical field by placing objects directly in front of the endoscope&#39;s field of view.  
           [0011]    Despite the apparent limitations, endoscopes in ear surgery offer the following advantages over binocular microscopy:  
           [0012]    1. Minimal invasion: To accomplish adequate exposure for microscopic ear surgery, otologic surgeons often make postauricular incisions and reshape the bone of the ear canal. Although such steps facilitate precision and desirable surgical results, they do add additional invasion and requisite discomfort and healing requirements for the patient. Ideally, endoscopes could limit the need for additional surgical wounds to accomplish adequate exposure.  
           [0013]    2. Illumination: During standard microscopic ear surgery, the light from the microscope illuminates past the surgeon&#39;s hands and instruments. Then the light must reflect back to the lens, again past the surgeon&#39;s instruments and hands. This arrangement causes occasional obstruction of the surgical field and may require awkward rearrangement of the surgeon&#39;s hands.  
           [0014]    It is, therefore, desirable to provide an endoscope that facilitates illumination, viewing and manipulation of instruments in a field of view of the endoscope with minimal interference between the illumination, the acquisition of a view and the instruments. Still other desirable features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The invention is an endoscope that includes a body defining a bore that extends therethrough. A plurality of fiber optic cables extends at least partially through the body and terminates adjacent one end of the bore. The plurality of fiber optic cables includes a first subset of fiber optic cables having their ends opposite the body coupled to a source of light. As used herein, the term “subset” means a set consisting of elements of a given set that can be the same as the given set or smaller.  
           [0016]    The bore can include therein a restriction configured to prevent the passage of the barrel of a telescope therethrough. The bore can have the shape of a truncated cone or a cylinder.  
           [0017]    The plurality of fiber optic cables can further include a second subset of fiber optic cables having their ends opposite the body coupled to a viewer. The viewer can be operative for displaying an image received by the second subset of fiber optic cables as a monocular image. The viewer can be one of a video monitor or an eye piece.  
           [0018]    The first and second subsets of fiber optic cables can terminate in concentric rings adjacent the one end of the bore.  
           [0019]    The plurality of fiber optic cables can further include a third subset of fiber optic cables coupled to the viewer. The second and third subset of fiber optic cables can terminate in a manner to receive different perspective views from a field of view. The viewer can be operative for displaying an image received from the field of view by each of the second and third subsets of fiber optic cables separately, e.g., as a stereoscopic image.  
           [0020]    The first subset of fiber optic cables can terminate adjacent the one end of the bore in a first ring and the second and third subsets of fiber optic cables can terminate adjacent the one end of the bore in a second ring that is concentric with the first ring.  
           [0021]    The second and third subsets of fiber optic cables can terminate adjacent the one end of the bore on opposite sides thereof or in an alternating manner around the one end of the bore.  
           [0022]    The invention is also a hollow speculum endoscope comprising a generally frustum shaped body having an apex and a base at opposite ends thereof and a cavity that extends between the apex and the base. A first light transmitter extends at least partially through the body. The first light transmitter has a terminal end which is encased in the body adjacent the apex thereof. The first light transmitter has an origin end configured to be coupled to a source of light which is operative to transmit light through said first light transmitter for projection from the terminal end thereof.  
           [0023]    The cavity can include a restriction therein configured to avoid the passage of the barrel of a telescope therethrough. The cavity can be configured to receive one or more surgical instruments therethrough.  
           [0024]    The endoscope can also include a second light transmitter having an origin end which is encased in the body adjacent the apex thereof. The second light transmitter extends from the origin end thereof and at least partially through the body. The second light transmitter has a terminal end configured to be coupled to a viewer which is operative for enlarging an image acquired by the second light transmitter from a field of view which is disposed on a side of the apex of the body opposite the base of the body.  
           [0025]    The first and second light transmitters can define concentric rings adjacent the apex of the body. The viewer can be operative for displaying the image received by the second light transmitter as a monocular image.  
           [0026]    The second light transmitter can include first and second subsets of light transmitting elements coupled to provide to the viewer first and second perspectives of the field of view. The viewer can be operative for displaying the perspectives of an object positioned in the field of view received from the first and second subsets of light transmitting elements as a stereoscopic image of the object. The first and second subsets of light transmitting elements can terminate on opposite sides of the cavity adjacent the apex of the body or in an alternating manner around the end of the cavity adjacent the apex of the body. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of an endoscope including a first subset of light transmitters coupled to a light source;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 b  is a view taken along lines Ib-Ib in FIG. 1 a;    
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a view from the apex end of an endoscope having an egg shaped body;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 a  is a perspective view of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 a  further including a second plurality of light transmitters coupled to a viewer;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 b  is a view taken along lines IIIb-IIIb in FIG. 2 a;    
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the endoscope shown in FIG. 1 a  further including second and third pluralities of light transmitters disposed on opposite sides of the endoscope and separately coupled to a viewer;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the endoscope shown in FIG. 4 wherein different sets of light transmitters comprise the second and third plurality of light transmitters that are coupled to the viewer; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an endoscope including a bore having a restriction therein for contacting an embossment, or other such structure, adjacent the image receiving end of a telescope. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures where like reference numbers correspond to like elements.  
         [0036]    With reference to FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b , a hollow speculum endoscope  2  includes a body  4  having a bore  6  that extends between a first end  8  of body  4  and a second end  10  of body  4 . Body  4  and bore  6  can have a generally frustum shape wherein first end  8  defines a base and second end  10  defines an apex of body  4 . However, the description of body  4  and bore  6  as having frustum shapes is not to be construed as limiting the invention, since body  4  and/or bore  6  can have any suitable shape. For example, body  4  and bore  6  can have cylindrical shapes; body  4  can have a frustum shape while bore  6  can have a cylindrical shape; or, as shown in FIG. 2, body  4  can have an ovoid or egg shape and bore  6  can have an ovoid or cylindrical shape.  
         [0037]    Body  4  is defined by an outer wall  12  and an inner wall  14  positioned in spaced relation between first end  8  and second end  10 . Inner wall  14  also defines bore  6 .  
         [0038]    Between outer wall  12  and inner wall  14 , body  4  can be solid, hollow or some combination of solid and hollow between first end  8  and second end  10 . One or more light transmitters  16 , such as a fiber optic cable, can be positioned in body  4  between outer wall  12  and inner wall  14 . Each light transmitter  16  has a terminal or distal end  18  that terminates adjacent second end  10 . An origin or proximal end  20  of each light transmitter  16  can be optically coupled to a light source  22  which is operative to provide light to each light transmitter  16  having its proximal end  20  coupled thereto. Desirably, the proximal end  20  of each light transmitter  16  is coupled directly to light source  22 .  
         [0039]    Each light transmitter  16  conveys light received from light source  22  to second end  10  of body  4  whereupon said light exits light transmitter  16  and travels toward a field of view disposed on a side of second end  10  opposite first end  8 .  
         [0040]    Each object disposed in the field of view is illuminated by light exiting the distal end of light transmitter  16 . For example, when second end  10  of body  4  is positioned in the ear canal of a patient, light exiting the distal end of each light transmitter illuminates ear structure disposed in the field of view. Once illuminated, each object in the field of view can be observed simply by peering, either with the naked eye or via a telescope, through bore  6  adjacent first end  8  of body  4 . If necessary, one or more instruments (not shown) can be projected through bore  6  into operative relation with the one or more objects in the field of view. More specifically, the distal end of each instrument can be projected through bore  6  while the proximal end of each instrument can remain outside of bore  6  on a side of first end  8  opposite second end  10  for manipulation by a user to effect a desired procedure on an object in the field of view. Once the desired procedure is complete, the distal end of each instrument can be withdrawn from the field of view via bore  6 .  
         [0041]    In FIG. 1 a , each light transmitter  16  enters body  4  at first end  8  thereof. However, if desired, each light transmitter  16 &#39; (shown in phantom) can enter body  4  via outer wall  12  or inner wall  14  intermediate first end  8  and second end  10 . Accordingly, the illustrated entry point of each light transmitter  16  into body  4  is not to be construed as limiting the invention.  
         [0042]    With reference to FIGS. 3 a - 3   b , and with continuing reference to FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b , hollow speculum endoscope  2  can also include one or more light transmitters  24 , such as a fiber optic cable, which extend between first end  8  and second end  10  of body  4  in the manner described above for each light transmitter  16 . Each light transmitter  24  has an origin or proximal end  28  which initiates adjacent second end  10  of body  4 . A terminal or distal end of each second light transmitter  24  is coupled to a viewer  30  which, in FIG. 3 a , is operative to display a monocular image of one or more objects in the field of view of endoscope  2 . Viewer  30  can be any conventional device that enables a user to visualize objects positioned in the field of view of endoscope  2 . Examples of viewer  30  include a goggle or a video display.  
         [0043]    In use, light source  22  and light transmitters  16  co-act to project light onto one or more objects positioned in the field of view and light transmitters  24  and viewer  30  co-act to transfer light reflected from said objects to viewer  30  for visualization by a user. As with the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 1 a , the distal end of one or more instruments, such as medical instruments, can be inserted through bore  6  of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 3 a  for manipulation in the field of view of endoscope  2 . Hence, when used in connection with an instrument, endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 3 a  enables light to be provided to the field of view and enables images to be acquired from the field of view while, at the same time, providing unobstructed entry of one or more instruments into the field of view for manipulation during a procedure. In addition, bore  6  of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 3 a  can be utilized to facilitate viewing of one or more objects in the field of view in the manner discussed above in connection with the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 1 a.    
         [0044]    The distal ends  18  and proximal ends  26  of light transmitters  16  and  24 , respectively, can be arranged in any desirable configuration. One such configuration, shown in FIG. 3 b , includes the distal ends of light transmitters  8  and the proximal ends of light transmitters  24  arranged in concentric circles. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention since the distal ends of light transmitters  18  and the proximal ends  26  of light transmitters  24  can be arranged in any desirable manner.  
         [0045]    With reference to FIG. 4, and with continuing reference to FIGS. 1 a ,  1   b ,  3   a  and  3   b , light transmitters  24  can be split into two groups  34  and  36 . As shown in FIG. 4, each light transmitter  24  of group  34  is disposed on one side of body  4  while each light transmitter  24  of group  36  is disposed on the other side of body  4 . Light transmitters  24  of groups  34  and  36  can be coupled to separate inputs  38  and  40 , respectively, of viewer  30 . Because light transmitters  24  of groups  34  and  36  are disposed on opposite sides of body  4 , they can provide first and second perspectives of the field of view to viewer  30  which can be operative for displaying the first and second perspectives as a stereoscopic image.  
         [0046]    With reference to FIG. 5, and with continuing reference to FIG. 4, instead of light transmitters  24  of groups  34  and  36  being disposed on opposite sides of body  4 , light transmitters  24  of groups  34  and  36  can be coupled in an alternating manner to inputs  38  and  40 , respectively, of viewer  30  for stereoscopic viewing of objects in the field of view. Other than the coupling of light transmitters  24  of groups  34  and  36  in an alternating manner to the inputs  38  and  40  of viewer  30 , the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0047]    With reference to FIG. 6, the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment of endoscope  2  shown in FIG. 1 except in FIG. 6 bore  6  has a cylindrical shape and bore  6  includes a restriction  44  therein. The description of restriction  44  as part of cylindrical bore  6  in FIG. 6, however, is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Restriction  44  can include an aperture  46  configured to receive the barrel of a telescope  48  therethrough. The barrel of telescope  48  can include an embossment  50  positioned at a suitable location thereon to avoid telescope  48  from passing through bore  6 . In use, the image capturing end of telescope  48  is inserted via first end  8  into barrel  6  and into aperture  46  of restriction  44  until embossment  50  contacts a surface of restriction  44 . Thereafter, a user can peer into the viewing end of telescope  48  to observe objects positioned in the field of view of endoscope  2 . When a procedure is complete, telescope  48  can be withdrawn from bore  6 .  
         [0048]    In FIG. 6, restriction  44  is shown as having a washer shape. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention since any form of restriction that avoids movement of the image receiving end of telescope  48  past a desired position in bore  6  is envisioned.  
         [0049]    As can be seen, the present invention is a hollow speculum endoscope that enables light and instruments to be provided to a field of view with minimal interference therebetween. The present invention also enables objects in the field of view to be visualized, either directly, e.g., with the naked eye or via telescope  48 , or indirectly, e.g., via viewer  30 , with minimal interference.  
         [0050]    The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. For example, second end  10  can include a clear bezel  42  that enables light from light transmitters  16  to pass therethrough while enabling light reflected from objects in the field of view to pass therethrough into light transmitters  24 . Bezel  42  avoids fluid and particulate matter from contacting the ends of light transmitters  16  and  24  disposed adjacent second end  10 . It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.