Automated control of irrigation and aspiration in a single-use endoscope
US7479106B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/127
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is an integrated and automated irrigation and aspiration system for use in an endoscopic imaging system. The system provides for the automated cleaning of poorly prepared patients during a colonoscopy procedure as well as automated cleaning of an imaging system of an endoscope. The invention analyzes images obtained from an image sensor to detect the presence of an obstructed field of view, whereupon a wash routine is initiated to remove the obstruction. The wash routine may be adjusted in accordance with environmental conditions within the patient that are sensed by one or more sensors within the endoscope. In another embodiment, insufflation is automatically controlled to inflate a patient's colon as a function of one or more sensor readings obtained from one or more environmental sensor(s) on the endoscope.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.