JPWO2019234712A5 - - Google Patents

Description

This application is subject to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/850,326, filed May 20, 2019, and 62/722,150, filed Aug. 23, 2018, each entitled "Endoscope with Disposable Camera Shaft." 62/682,585 filed June 8, 2018, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application covers endoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, colonoscopy and for evaluating, examining, measuring, monitoring, studying or testing the living or dead human and animal body for medical purposes. to any similar device, apparatus, implementation or process specially adapted or intended for use in

In general, in a first aspect, the invention features an endoscope. The endoscope has a handle and an insertion shaft. The insertion shaft has solid-state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near the tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of the body cavity for the surgeon during surgery . A proximal portion of the handle has electronics for driving the illumination circuitry and receiving imaging signals from the imaging circuitry, allowing the proximal handle portion to be sterilized between uses. is designed to A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to detachably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. When separated, the joint allows removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement. The joint is designed such that when connected, the joint can transmit mechanical forces from the surgeon's hand to the insertion shaft, providing electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry.

In general, in a second aspect, the invention features a method of endoscopic practice having a handle and an insertion shaft. the insertion shaft has solid-state illumination and imaging circuitry at or near the tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of the body cavity for the surgeon during surgery ; A proximal portion of the handle has electronics for driving the illumination circuitry and receiving imaging signals from the imaging circuitry, and the proximal handle portion is adapted to allow sterilization between uses. A joint between the proximal handle portion and the insertion shaft is designed to detachably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal handle portion. The joint is separated to allow removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement. The joint is reconnected to a new insertion shaft, the connection providing mechanical force transmission between the surgeon's hand and the insertion shaft and electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry. designed to

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The handle can have a proximal portion and a distal portion. A distal portion may be positioned between the insertion shaft and the proximal handle portion. The insertion shaft may be rigidly attached to the distal handle portion. The joint may be arranged to connect and disconnect the distal and proximal portions of the handle. The distal handle portion indirectly transmits mechanical forces between the surgeon's hand and the insertion shaft and provides indirect electrical connectivity between the proximal handle circuitry and the illumination and imaging circuitry. can be designed. The handle has surface features designed to assist the surgeon in rotating the insertion shaft relative to the proximal handle portion in a roll dimension about the axis of the insertion shaft. can have Electronics within the proximal handle portion are designed to sense the roll of the insertion shaft and provide an angular rotation signal that can be designed to allow righting of the displayed image received from the imaging circuitry. do. The attachment to the image sensor can be designed to allow panning of the image sensor about a pitch or yaw axis perpendicular to the central axis of the insertion shaft. One or more ultraviolet LEDs inside the endoscope may be designed to sterilize the area inside the endoscope. A hose for insufflation fluid or gas may be designed to be placed on or near the central axis of the proximal handle portion. Two or more insertion shafts, each having a different dimension than the others, are each connectable to a proximal handle portion at the joint to facilitate use of the proximal handle in surgeries having different requirements for the insertion shaft. can allow. A sterilization cabinet may be designed to sterilize endoscope components.

The advantages and features described above are of representative embodiments only and are presented only to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limiting of the invention as defined by the claims. Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the claims, from the drawings, in the following description.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. It is a top view of an endoscope. It is a top view of an endoscope. It is a top view of an endoscope. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG. 1 shows a partially sectioned endoscope. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope; FIG.

1 is a perspective view of an endoscope handle in a sterilizer; FIG.

I. Overview Referring to FIGS. 1(a), 1(b), 1(c) and 1(d), a surgical endoscope 100 includes a portion of the shaft 110 that extends from the endoscope handles 112, 114. It can be configured to allow removal. A camera or image sensor, optional panning mechanism, lighting, power and signal connectors, and fluid flow paths at the distal end 116 of the shaft can be on the disposable shaft 110 . Handles 112, 114 may be designed to be reusable (which means handles 112, 114 may be sterilizable, for example, in an autoclave or other sterilization device, or may be protected by a disposable sterile sleeve). suggest that there may be). The joint 130 between the removable shaft and the reusable portion of the handles 112, 114 may be generally distal (but not necessarily at the most distal end) in the handles. The replaceable shaft portion 110 may be disposable with the disposable portion 120 of the handle being disposable with the shaft 110 .

II. Reusability: Partially reusable, partly disposable/replaceable, with interlocking joints between Figures 1(a), 1(c), 2(a), 2( b), FIG. 2(c), FIG. 2(d) and FIG. 3(a), the handle of endoscope 100 may include three main components.
• Disposable cap 120; This distal-most portion of the handle can serve as the mounting base for shaft 110 and can be disconnected from the rest 112, 114 of the handle. This disposable cap portion 120 (along with shaft 110 and internal components) may be disposable.
• The rotating collar 112 may have surface features 302, 304 to allow the surgeon to rotate the rotating collar 120 about the central axis of the handle, ie about the roll axis 126 of the shaft. During surgery, insertion shaft 110 , disposable cap 120 and rotating collar 112 may be locked to rotate together such that rotating the rotating collar results in rotation 126 of disposable cap 120 and shaft 110 .
• The proximal stationary handle 114 has a shell surrounding the components internal to the handle. The outer diameter and surface of handle 114 may be designed to provide an easy, non-slip grip for the surgeon's hand. A joint 128 between the proximal handle and the rotating collar may allow these two components to rotate relative to each other. In some cases, circuit boards and similar components inside proximal handle 114 may rotate with disposable cap 120 and rotating collar 112 inside proximal handle 114 . Disposable cap 120 and rotating collar 112 are separable from each other at joint 130 so that handle 114 and rotating collar 112 (and their internal components) are reusable, while disposable cap 120 and shaft 110 are reusable. May be disposable.

1(a), 1(c), 1(d), and 3(a), three basic connections can be made between the disposable cap 120 and the rotating collar 112. As shown in FIG.
• Rotation lock couplings 140, 142 for holding the disposable portion 120 to the reusable handles 112, 114; Couplings 140 , 142 transfer insertion and withdrawal forces, roll, pitch, yaw torque, lateral forces, and similar forces from proximal reusable handles 112 , 114 to distal disposable portion 120 and shaft 100 . It can have sufficient intensity to transmit, thereby allowing the physician to aim the lighting and/or camera as desired. A joint 130 between the disposable cap 120 and the rotating collar 112 may be positioned generally toward the distal end of the handle. The disposable cap and rotating collar 112 may be engaged by a flat force transmission surface 144 centrally and around the joint 130 so that these forces are supported around the separable joint 130 . One or more release buttons 146 may be pushed or squeezed to disengage one or more locking snaps 148 . A mechanical connection may include a rotatable locking ring or other release/ locking mechanism.
• Electrical connections for powering the illumination source and camera, and for conveying light signals returned from the camera to a processing board in the handle 112, 114 and a display system external to the endoscope . A disconnectable electrical connection for power and signals may be provided by USB-C connectors 150, 152, mini HDMI connectors, or similar connectors capable of maintaining signal integrity of high speed signals. When illumination is carried by optical fibers, joint 130 may include an optical connector.
- Releasable connection to any panning mechanism of the camera can be achieved by a physical connector such as a link.

In some cases, the camera/image sensor, LEDs and electronic connections (and any mechanical connections for panning the camera/image sensor) may be removable from insertion shaft 110 . Shaft 110 and cap 120 may be sufficiently smooth and simple in shape to allow easy sterilization. Similarly, once the electronic devices are removed from the interior of shaft 110, they may also be sterilizable. Disassembling, sterilizing and reassembling the shaft and its internal components for reuse is cost effective, especially in markets where labor costs are low.

One or more fluid hoses 160 for irrigation fluid or inflation gas (or two hoses, one for fluid and one for gas) may pass through the disposable cap 120, resulting in an irrigation /inflation channel. The entire set of fluid tubes may be disposable with the disposable shaft portion. In other cases (e.g., FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)), a fluid hose 162 may be threaded through the proximal end of the endoscope to provide fluid inflow and outflow within joint 130. Releasable fluid connections may be provided by gaskets, O-rings, and the like. Alternatively, the connector for the hose may be external to the endoscope itself , either near the endoscope (allowing "quick change" exchange of the insertion shaft in the course of a single procedure). (for applications where it is desirable to do so), or at the far end of the endoscope, usually at a waste container, to facilitate disposal of any hoses that may have become contaminated from contact with the patient.

Disposable shafts 110, 120 may be designed to facilitate disposal of components that contact bodily fluids. Because sterilization is often imperfect, patient safety may be improved by discarding components that have come in contact with the patient's bodily fluids. To improve sterility, it may be desirable to have fewer components in the disposable components 110, 120, which may reduce the cost of the disposable components and reduce surface features and cracks that can be difficult to sterilize. be. Accordingly, the lens, image sensor, LEDs, panning mechanism and shaft may be disposable. Additionally, since the shaft 110 is used for fluid inflow and outflow and is disposable, sealing against bodily fluids may not be necessary.

5(c), the irrigation /infusing fluid/gas inflow hose 160, irrigation /infusing fluid/gas outflow hose 162, and electrical connection cord 164 are permanently attached 540, 542 to the disposable cap 120. Referring to FIG. obtain. This arrangement may allow the reusable portion 114 of the handle not to come into contact with fluids, allowing the hose 162, which is contaminated due to carrying water from the surgical cavity, to be disposable. The hoses and cords 160,162 may be routed through channels 554 that run the length of the reusable handles 112,114. Channel 544 may have a sufficiently large inner diameter to allow easy passage of hoses and cords 160, 162, 164 and connectors 550, 552, and may have continuous, smooth walls to allow for easy sterilization. to make replaceable components instantly replaceable. Channel 554 may be offset from the central axis to allow for centralized placement of printed circuit board 422 . The connectors 550 , 552 at the ends of the hoses and cords 160 , 162 can be sized small enough to pass through the channel 554 . Thus, replacement of shaft 110, cap 120, hoses and cords 160, 162 may be accomplished by passing connectors 550, 552 and hoses and cords 160, 162 through channel 544. FIG. The electrical cord 164 may have a connector 554 at or near the joint 130, and the hose 160 for flowing irrigation /insufflation fluids/gases to the surgical cavity may likewise make this hose (s) reusable. It may have a connector at the joint 130 to prevent leakage, or may be permanently attached 540 to reduce the likelihood of leakage. Having the hoses and cables 160 , 162 generally on-axis reduces undesirable cable flop during use of the endoscope and reduces undesirable torque on the cap 120 . Forming the shaft 120, cap 120 and hoses 160, 162 as an integral unit for replacement reduces the likelihood of leaks and improves the sterility of the replacement operation.

Referring to FIG. 5(d), the replaceable/disposable shaft and its mounting components can be specialized for different types of surgery. For example, a replaceable disposable cap/shaft unit 110, 120 for laparoscopic thoracic surgery may have a shaft with a length of 400 mm and a diameter of 10 mm. The replaceable components for knee and hip arthroscopic surgery can be 155 mm long and 5.5 mm or 4 mm in diameter. For small joints, a 2.9 mm or smaller diameter interchangeable shaft may be preferred. Typical dimensions for various surgical specialties may be as follows (measured in millimeters).

Various replaceable components 110 may have different instruments on the tip 116 . For example, various interchangeable shafts may have cameras oriented at 0° (directly on-axis), 30°, 45°, 70°, and 90°.

Referring to FIG. 1(b), the disposable shaft portions 110, 120 are consequently separated into an outer cannula 132 for protection and strength and an inner shaft portion 134 which holds various illumination, light and fluid carrying components. can be possible.

III. Additional Features of the Endoscope Referring to FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d), the endoscope includes handles 112, 114, 120 and an endoscope for insertion into the body. and a shaft 110 for At or near distal tip 116 of shaft 110 may be a camera, electronic image sensor, or other optical component. The orientation of the camera may be fixed in the endoscope or it may be pannable. The camera may be at the tip 116 so that it looks out from the shaft, or it may be recessed at a short distance rearward from the structural tip of the shaft. Additionally, there may be an illumination source, such as an LED, at or near the tip. The tip 116 may have a rigid pointed trocar tip, or it may have a spoon-like portion that extends beyond the image sensor, or it may be flexible (the tip of a colonoscope). ) , in any case extending slightly beyond the imaging camera to provide physical protection for the camera/image sensor during insertion , or a surgical cutting device. protect the camera/image sensor from

Illumination can be visible, infrared and/or ultraviolet. In some cases, illumination LEDs (light emitting diodes) can be placed in the reusable handles 112, 114, disposable shafts can have optical fibers to transmit light to the tips, and joints 130 can be It can have an optical coupler. In other cases, illumination LEDs may be placed in tip 116 to directly illuminate the surgical cavity. In such cases, joint 130 may have a power connector. In some cases, the LED may be recessed from the tip or may be located elsewhere in the shaft, and an optical fiber may carry the illumination light to the tip. The optical fibers, for example, may be configured in splits so that the light is arranged in a desired pattern around the image sensor to better distribute the light into the surgical cavity around the image sensor.

The shaft 110 itself is rigid and can be made of a non-bioreactive metal such as stainless steel or coated aluminum. In some cases, the surgical cavity around the endoscope tip may be insufflated with a gas (usually carbon dioxide) or flushed with saline. In either case, fluid inflow and outflow can be achieved by channels through the shaft.

Shaft 110 may also hold illumination LEDs and power wires to the camera, and signal wires that carry light signals returned from the camera to electronics in the reusable portions 112, 114 of the handle . can. Power to the camera can be supplied by conductors in a flexible cable or on a printed circuit board (flexible or rigid ), insulated using a conformal insulating coating such as parylene. obtain. This same flexible circuit board may have signal conductors for video signals from the camera. The video signal can be transmitted from the camera to the handle using any video signal protocol, such as MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) or HDMI. Parylene may also improve biocompatibility.

Shaft 110 may also hold cables or other mechanical elements that control panning of the camera .

Referring to FIG. 3(a), the rotating collar can have various features that facilitate rotation. For example, the indentations 302 may provide adequate finger grip for light roll torque. Fins 304 may provide greater force for greater roll torque and may also provide a fixed rotational reference point.

Buttons 310 may perform various functions such as turning lighting LEDs on or off, taking pictures, and starting and stopping video. A single button can perform all these functions, depending on the nature of the press. For example, pressing and holding for 3 seconds may cause the illumination LED to blink. A quick press may capture a single frame still image. A double click can start and stop the video recording.

When the camera at distal end 116 of shaft 110 is pannable or has other controllable features, near button 310 is a control (e.g., lever, or touch slide) for controlling its adjustment of the camera. panels, etc.) may be present.

One or more ultraviolet LEDs are positioned inside the handles 112, 114, inside the shaft 110, or near the tip 116 to ensure sterilization of the internal components of the device, or to prevent water from passing through the device. can help ensure that the water is sterile.

Referring to FIG. 3(b), the cleaning /infusing hoses 160, 162 can pass through various points on the handle. For example, wash /puff hoses 160 , 162 may pass through fins 304 . Alternatively, irrigation /insufflation fluid/gas hoses 160, 162 may pass through the proximal end of handle 114, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). This hose may then be disconnectable via fluid disconnect joint 320 within joint 130 . Referring to FIG. 3(c), when the hose 160 for insufflation fluid/gas passes through the disposable cap 120, various joints and strain relief features 340 can be used to hold the hose 160 in place.

Referring to FIGS. 3( d ) and 3 ( g ), electrical connectors 150 , 152 such as USB-C or mini-HDMI connectors can be used to connect the camera to the circuit board inside handle 114 .

Referring to FIG. 3( e ), rotation lock couplings 140 , 142 may lock disposable cap 120 in rotational relationship with rotating collar 112 . Various rigid and resilient features 144, 148 may lock them together for other forces and torques, and a release button 146 disengages them to allow replacement of the disposable cap 120. can be allowed.

Referring to FIG. 3( f ), rotation between the stationary portion 114 of the handle and the rotating collar 112 may be provided via a rotary bearing 360 in joint 128 .

4(b) and 4(c), proximal handle 114 may house a number of components. Components that typically involve only incidental patient contact (thus presenting less risk of cross-infection), are costly (thus desirably reusable), and are sterilizable or covered by a sterile sleeve. For example, the proximal handle 114 may hold power transformers, signal amplifiers, lighting LEDs and camera controls, mechanical controls for panning the camera, rotation sensors for erecting images from the camera, and the like. The handle may also include connections to external sources and destinations such as power, signals, and fluids.

Proximal handle 114 may include a rotation sensor so that the angular orientation of the camera can be ascertained. For example, the inner surface of the proximal handle 114 may have one or more magnets 420 mounted thereon, and a printed circuit board 422 (which rotates with the rotating collar 112 and disposable cap 120) may have a sensor 424 to detect the magnets. This can be used to calculate a rotation direction, which can then be used to "upright" the image from the camera on the video display screen.

The distal tip of the shaft, the camera mounted thereon, and the mounting of the components within the shaft can be rigidly designed. Sometimes, during surgery, the tip of an endoscope may come into contact with a shaver, ablation probe, or cautery probe, and it may be desirable for the tip to be rigid against such contact. To reduce the risk that components may migrate and remain in the patient, the disposable shaft and its components may be designed to avoid joints that are at high risk of mechanical failure. A disposable optical system may prevent image degradation that occurs when non-disposable optical devices are reused in multiple surgical procedures.

Certain types of endoscopes include arthroscopes, laparoscopes, colonoscopes, and other specialized endoscopes for various body cavities. For arthroscopes for joint surgery, the shaft is as small as 5 mm, 5.5 mm, or 6 mm and fairly rigid. For other endoscopes, such as colonoscopes, the diameter may be larger and the shaft flexible.

The endoscope can be supplied as a handle and multiple tips, each tip individually sealed for sterilization.

Referring to FIG. 6, reusable handles 112, 114 may be sterilized in sterilizer 600. FIG. Hoses 160, 162 and all other portions of endoscope 100 that come into contact with the patient or with fluids that come in contact with the patient are preferably disposable. The design of the reusable portions 112, 114 ensures that contamination is minimized by avoiding contact with the patient's bodily fluids. Sterilizer 600 may be configured to accept one or more reusable handles 112 , 114 and illuminate them with ultraviolet light from ultraviolet LED 602 . Rods 610 passing through handle channel 544 may have ultraviolet LEDs 612 positioned along their length to sterilize inner channel 544 .

IV. Other Embodiments The various processes described herein can be implemented by appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purpose computers and computing devices. Typically, a processor (eg, one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) receives instructions (eg, from a memory or such device) and processes those instructions. executes one or more processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may be embodied in one or more computer programs, one or more scripts, or in other forms. Processing may be performed by one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or such devices or any combination thereof. Programs implementing processes and data to be processed may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media. In some cases, hard-wired circuitry or customized hardware may be used in place of or in combination with some or all software instructions that may implement a process . Algorithms other than those described may be used.

The programs and data may be stored in a variety of media suitable for their purpose, or in a combination of disparate media readable and/or writable by a computer, processor, or such device. The medium may be non-volatile, volatile, optical or magnetic, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static RAM, floppy disk, floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical media, punched cards, paper tape, any other physical media with a pattern of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM, flash EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or other memory technology. can include

The database can be implemented using a database management system or an ad-hoc memory configuration scheme. Alternative database structures to those described can be readily adopted. Databases may be stored locally or remotely from devices that access data in such databases.

In some cases, processing may be performed in a networked environment including a computer in communication with one or more devices (eg, over a communications network). The computer can be connected to any wired or wireless medium (e.g., Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, token ring, telephone line, cable line, wireless channel, optical line, commercial online service provider, bulletin board system, satellite communication link, a combination of any of the above), directly or indirectly with the device. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission may occur over a transmission medium or over electromagnetic waves at various frequencies using various protocols, such as infrared, WiFi, and Bluetooth. may Each of the devices themselves may be a computer or other computing device, such as those based on Intel® Pentium® or Centrino® processors, adapted to communicate with a computer. can be provided. Any number and type of devices may communicate with the computer.

A server computer or centralized authority may or may not be necessary or desirable. In various cases, a network may or may not include a central authority device. Various processing functions may be performed at a central authority server, one of several distributed servers, or other distributed devices.

For the reader's convenience, the above description focuses on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample teaching the principles of the invention and conveying the best mode contemplated for carrying out the same. there is Throughout this application and the associated file history, when the term "invention" is used, it refers to the entire collection of concepts and principles described. In contrast, the formal definition of an exclusively protected property right is set forth in the exclusively controlled claim. The description does not attempt to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations. Other undescribed variations or modifications may be possible. When multiple alternative embodiments are described, it is often the case that elements of different embodiments may be combined or elements of the embodiments described herein may be combined in other ways not explicitly described. It is possible to combine with modifications or variations. The listing of items does not imply that any or all items are mutually exclusive, nor that any or all items are inclusive in any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. does not imply In many cases, one feature or group of features can be used independently of the overall apparatus or method described. Many of those undescribed variations, modifications and variations fall within the literal scope of the following claims and others are equivalent.

Claims (20)

An endoscope comprising a handle and an insertion shaft, comprising :
The insertion shaft carries at or near the tip an illumination emitter and a solid- state imaging sensor designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of the body cavity for the surgeon during surgery . have
A proximal portion of the handle has electronics designed to drive the illumination emitters and receive imaging signals from the imaging sensor , the proximal portion of the handle being located between uses. designed to allow sterilization in
a separation joint between the proximal portion of the handle and the insertion shaft is designed to detachably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal portion of the handle ;
said separation joint permits removal of said insertion shaft for disposal and replacement of said insertion shaft when separated;
said separation joint, when connected, is designed to provide transmission of mechanical forces applied by a surgeon 's hand to said insertion shaft, said separation joint having features for transmitting roll torque; The separation joint has a locking feature, the separation joint has opposing flat force-transmitting surfaces of the handle and the insertion shaft at or near the periphery of the separation joint, and the separation joint connects. The opposing flat force transmission surfaces then abut to transmit insertion and withdrawal forces across the separation joint, and the locking features and peripheral force transmission surfaces of the separation joint provide stiffness in bending across the separation joint. to transmit pitch torque and yaw torque across the isolation joint;
The endoscope, wherein the isolation joint has an electrical connector designed to provide separable electrical connectivity between the electronics of the proximal portion of the handle and the illumination emitter and imaging sensor. the handle further has a distal portion interposed between the insertion shaft and the proximal portion of the handle , the insertion shaft rigidly attached to the distal portion of the handle ;
the joint is arranged to connect to and disconnect from the distal portion and the proximal portion of the handle ;
The distal portion of the handle indirectly transmits mechanical forces between a surgeon's hand and the insertion shaft and from the electronics in the proximal portion of the handle to the illumination emitter and imaging sensor. designed to provide indirect electrical connectivity for
The endoscope according to claim 1. The handle has a rotating collar with surface features designed to assist the surgeon in imparting a rolling torque to the proximal portion of the handle and to the insertion shaft about the central axis of the insertion shaft. The endoscope according to claim 2 , comprising: The electronics in the proximal portion of the handle sense rotation of the insertion shaft and provide angular rotation signals designed to enable uprighting of displayed images received from the imaging sensor . 4. An endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3, designed to . 5. Any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mounting of the imaging sensor is designed to allow panning of the imaging sensor about a pitch or yaw axis perpendicular to the central axis of the insertion shaft. or the endoscope according to item 1. 6. The endoscope of any one of claims 1-5, further comprising one or more ultraviolet LEDs inside the endoscope and designed to sterilize an area inside the endoscope. speculum. 7. Any of claims 1 to 6, wherein one or more hoses for insufflation fluids or gases are designed to be placed on or near the central axis of the proximal portion of the handle. or the endoscope according to item 1. further comprising two or more insertion shafts, each having a different dimension than the others, each connectable to said proximal portion of said handle at said separation joint; 8. An endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7, allowing use of the proximal portion of the handle in surgeries with different requirements. An endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the internal passages of the components of the endoscope are sterilized in a sterilization cabinet. relative to the proximal portion of the handle, a revolute joint between the proximal portion of the handle and the insertion shaft designed to allow rotation of the insertion shaft about a central axis of the insertion shaft; 10. An endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising. Further comprising a mating torsion lock feature on the insertion shaft and on the handle, the mating torsion lock feature designed to lock the proximal end of the insertion shaft to the distal end of the handle. 11. An endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein A method of adjusting an endoscope between uses, comprising:
the endoscope having a handle and an insertion shaft;
The insertion shaft has an illumination emitter and solid-state imaging sensor at or near the tip designed to provide illumination and imaging of the interior of the body cavity for the surgeon during surgery. death,
The proximal portion of the handle has electronics designed to drive the illumination emitters and receive imaging signals from the imaging sensor , the proximal portion of the handle being located between uses. designed to allow sterilization in
a separation joint between the proximal portion of the handle and the insertion shaft is designed to detachably connect the insertion shaft to the proximal portion of the handle ;
said separation joint permits removal of said insertion shaft for disposal and replacement of said insertion shaft when separated;
The separation joint, when connected, is designed to provide transmission of mechanical forces applied by a surgeon's hand to the insertion shaft, the separation joint having features for transmitting roll torque, and The joint has a locking feature, and the split joint has opposing flat force-transmitting surfaces of the handle and the insertion shaft at or near the periphery of the split joint, the split joint being connected. and said opposing flat force transmission surfaces abut to transmit insertion and withdrawal forces across said separation joint, and locking features and peripheral force transmission surfaces of said separation joint provide stiffness in bending across said separation joint. to transmit pitch torque and yaw torque across the separation joint;
The isolation joint has an electrical connector designed to provide separable electrical connectivity between the electronics of the proximal portion of the handle and the illumination emitter and imaging sensor, the method comprising: ,
separating the separation joint to allow removal of the insertion shaft for disposal and replacement of the insertion shaft;
and reconnecting a new insertion shaft through said separation joint. the handle further has a distal portion interposed between the insertion shaft and the proximal portion of the handle , the insertion shaft rigidly attached to the distal portion of the handle ;
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the separation joint is arranged to connect to and disconnect from the distal and proximal portions of the handle. The distal portion of the handle has a surface designed to assist the surgeon in imparting a rolling torque to the proximal portion of the handle to the insertion shaft about a central axis of the insertion shaft. 14. The method of claim 13 , having a rotating collar with features. The electronics in the proximal portion of the handle sense rotation of the insertion shaft and provide angular rotation signals designed to enable uprighting of displayed images received from the imaging sensor . 15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 , designed to . 13. Mounting of the imaging sensor on the insertion shaft is designed to allow panning of the imaging sensor about a pitch or yaw axis perpendicular to the central axis of the insertion shaft. 16. The method of any one of 15 to 15 . 17. The endoscope according to any one of claims 12 to 16 , wherein the endoscope has one or more ultraviolet LEDs inside the endoscope and designed to sterilize the area inside the endoscope. The method described in section. 18. Any of claims 12 to 17 , wherein one or more hoses for insufflation fluids or gases are designed to be placed on or near the central axis of the proximal portion of the handle. or the method described in paragraph 1. separating the separation joint to allow removal of the first insertion shaft for disposal and replacement , wherein the first insertion shaft has length and diameter dimensions ;
reconnecting a second insertion shaft at the separation joint, the second insertion shaft having at least one dimension substantially different from the corresponding dimension of the first insertion shaft; The two said insertion shafts are designed for surgery on different organs of the body, stage and
19. The method of any one of claims 12-18 , further comprising: further comprising placing the proximal portion of the handle in a sterilization cabinet designed to sterilize components of the endoscope following separation of the isolation joint and removal of the insertion shaft. 20. The method of any one of clauses 12-19 .