WO2022229947A1

WO2022229947A1 - A distal end of a probe configured for passing through a working channel in an endoscopic device

Info

Publication number: WO2022229947A1
Application number: PCT/IL2022/050418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avishay Sidlesky
Original assignee: V.T.M. (Virtual Tape Measure) Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 2021-04-25
Filing date: 2022-04-24
Publication date: 2022-11-03

Abstract

Disclosed is a distal end of a probe configured for passing through a working channel in an endoscopic device. The probe has an element at its distal end that is protected from mechanical impact by an annular wall around the element. At least one groove is cut in the annular wall to allow fluid and debris that accumulates in the space between the element and an inner surface of the annular wall to be evicted through the working channel by suction.

Description

A DISTAL END of a PROBE CONFIGURED for PASSING THROUGH a WORKING CHANNEL in an

ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The invention is from the field of endoscopes and similar devices. Specifically the invention relates to facilitating cleaning of the tip of through-the-scope tools having an exposed element at their tips, while the tools are positioned within the endoscope working channel.

Background of the Invention

During endoscopic medical procedures, it is of an advantage to introduce additional probes into the scene to perform different optical measurements, ultrasound treatment or imaging, in-situ histopathology, and the like.

It is noted that the terms "endoscope" and "endoscopic device" are used herein in a generic sense to apply to endoscopes, catheters, laparoscopes, and similar instruments that include a working channel and suction capabilities.

In US 9,545,220 the inventor of the present invention described a system and methods for measuring 3D distances and dimensions of objects that are visible in endoscopic images by using a light plane to make Euclidean and geodesic measurements. The system comprises the following: a) a flexible or rigid endoscopic device comprising visualization means; b a conventional endoscopy system adapted to operate the endoscopic device and to obtain and display images gathered by the visualization means; c) a light plane generating module comprising a light source and optical elements configured to generate a light plane; and d) a processing station comprising: processing means, dedicated software modules adapted for making both Euclidian and geodesic measurements, a graphical user interface (GUI), software, a pointing device, and a display adapted to present to the user of the system images acquired by the imaging system overlaid with graphics and text. When using an embodiment in which the light plane generating module is a probe manually inserted through the working channel of an endoscopic device, the tip of the probe can accumulate liquid or dirt, either directly or indirectly when passing through the working channel, and would not produce a clear light plane to enable measurement.

Standard methods for cleaning the viewed scene, such as applying the endoscopic device water jet and using its working channel built-in suction, provide only a partial solution since the light-generating optics are front-facing and cannot be completely cleaned. This deficiency is relevant to additional through-the-scope tools, such as ultrasound transducers, in-situ histopathology devices, and the like.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a solution to this problem.

Further purposes and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The invention is a distal end of a probe configured for passing through a working channel in an endoscopic device. The probe comprises an element at its distal end. The element is protected from mechanical impact by an annular wall around the element. At least one groove is cut in the annular wall. The at least one groove is configured to allow fluid and debris that accumulates in a space between the element and an inner beveled surface of the annular wall to be extracted by suction through the working channel.

In an embodiment of the distal end the element is one of: lenses, Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs), laser diodes, and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

In embodiments the element can be a component of a light plane generating module.

In embodiments of the distal end the element is one of optical fiber bundles and ultrasound transducers. All the above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be further understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative description of embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

— Fig. 1 schematically shows the distal end of a light plane probe ;

— Fig. 2 schematically shows the distal end of the light plane probe of Fig. 1 comprising a distal wall surrounding a lens at the end of the probe; and

— Fig. 3 schematically shows the distal end of the light plane probe of Fig. 2 comprising slots in the distal wall surrounding a lens at the end of the probe.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

The present invention provides a solution to a problem of obtaining a clear line projected onto an object to be measured by a light plane generating module. The proposed solution is specific to embodiments in which the light plane generating module is provided at the distal end of a measuring probe that is inserted through a working channel of a conventional endoscopic device.

A light plane can be generated in a number of different ways that are well known in the art. For example, a laser line module, e.g. a laser diode coupled with a single lens; an optical system comprising at least one lens; a diffractive optical element (DOE); or an optical system comprising at least one DOE can be mounted at the distal end of the probe or a light source can be positioned at the proximal end of an optical fiber leading to either a diffraction grating or lens at the distal tip of the probe. It is noted that the light plane need not be comprised of coherent light so any light source that produces colored light, e.g. colored LEDs, can be used as a light source instead of a laser. A source producing colored light is used in order to be able to see the light plane and its intersection with features in the image against the background of the illumination light used to produce the images, which is normally white light. It is noted however that special techniques can be used that would enable the use of a white light source to produce the light plane.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the distal end of a light plane probe that has been produced by the inventor of the present patent application. The probe 10 is dimensioned to be inserted into a working channel of a conventional endoscopic device. A flexible insertion section 12 is attached to the probe's handle (not shown) that in turn may produce and control the generation of light or may be connected to a handheld light source. Insertion section 12 is a hollow tube that may contain a metal torque spring to maintain its shape. At the distal end of insertion tube 12 is a short tube 14 made of a rigid material. The short tube 14 surrounds components of the light plane generating module and distal lens 16, which extends out of the distal end of short tube 14. Aspheric lens 16 is made from a cylinder with two facets 16a that meet in a rounded ridge line 16b at the distal end of lens 16, similar to a Powell lens.

Fig. 2 schematically shows probe 10', in which a protective element, known herein as annular wall 18, is attached to the distal end of short tube 14 in order to prevent mechanical damage to the lens 16. The inner surface of annular wall 18 is beveled to allow uninterrupted projection of the light plane.

When attempting to use the probes of Fig. 2 after introducing the probe to a site through a working channel of the endoscopic device, liquid and debris accumulates on the lens at the distal tip of the probe. Conventional endoscopic devices comprise conduits for cleaning liquid, e.g. water, that travel from the proximal end of the insertion tube to nozzles on the distal tip of the insertion tube and a connection to a suction pump that is used to draw fluid and particles of dirt from the distal tip back through the working channel of the insertion section.

When the measuring probe 10' comprising the light plane generating module is inserted through the working channel of an endoscope comprising water channels and nozzles on its distal tip as described above, dirt will frequently accumulate on the tip of the probe. To clean the tip of the measuring probe the inventor uses the following three step cleaning procedure: i) Extend the tip of the probe to be in proximity to the object to be measured or a wall of the lumen in which the endoscope has been inserted; ii) Operate the forward directed water jet of the endoscope and utilize the back splatter from the object or lumen wall to clean the lens and a pose pattern at the tip of the probe; iii) Retract the probe fully into the working channel and use suction in the working channel to withdraw fluid and residue from the lens. The last step is possible because a space exists between the inner diameter of the working channel and the outer diameter of the measuring probe. In an exemplary embodiment the tip diameter of the measuring probe is 2.7mm and the internal diameter of the working channel is 3.7mm.

During trials carried out with the probe 10', the inventor came to realize that obtaining a clear laser line was not trivial. This is because fluid/dirt that accumulated in the indentation around the lens 16, i.e. in the space between the lens 16 and the inner beveled surface of annular wall 18 designated by arrow 22 in Fig. 2, could not easily be removed by suction.

Fig. 3 schematically shows the solution to this problem, which was invented by the inventor. Probe 10" differs from probe 10' of Fig. 2 in that at least one groove 20 has been cut in the annular wall 18 in order to improve eviction of fluid/dirt by suction from the space designated by arrow 22 in Fig. 2 between lens 16 and the inner beveled surface of annular wall 18.

It is noted that even with probe 10' it was possible but rather difficult to achieve a clear lens, requiring repeating steps i) to iii) of the cleaning procedure described hereinabove multiple times, making the procedure tedious and impractical. In contrast to this, using probe 10" with the grooves, in most cases only step iii) was sufficient with steps i) and ii) required only for extreme dirt.

Although the above description relates exclusively to a measuring probe comprising a light plane generating module, the probe 10" can be adapted mutatis mutandis for any application that requires a probe designed to be passed through a working channel of an endoscopic device that comprises an exposed element at its distal tip. Examples of such elements are: lenses, Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs), laser diodes, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), optical fiber bundles and ultrasound transducers.

Claims

1. A distal end of a probe configured for passing through a working channel in an endoscopic device, the probe comprising an element at its distal end; wherein the element is protected from mechanical impact by an annular wall around the element; the distal end is characterized in that at least one groove is cut in the annular wall, wherein the at least one groove is configured to allow fluid and debris that accumulates in a space between the element and an inner surface of the annular wall to be extracted by suction through the working channel.

2. The distal end of claim 1, wherein the element is one of: lenses, Diffractive Optical Elements

(DOEs), laser diodes, and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

3. The distal end of claim 2, wherein the element is a component of a light plane generating module.

4. The distal end of claim 1, wherein the element is one of: optical fiber bundles and ultrasound transducers.

5. The distal end of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the annular wall is beveled.