Technique for depth of field viewing of images using an endoscopic instrument

Abstract

An endoscopic instrument capable of being optically coupled to a video monitor adapted with a prismatic screen is disclosed. The instrument includes a working channel of 0.35 mm and a biopsy instrument having a substantially tubular end. The prismatic screen is mounted between a flat image and a viewer. Additional optical elements may be provided to enlarge a viewed image. A light hood may be provided to reduce glare and other effects of ambient light. Coating the screen with an anti-reflective coating may provide further protection from ambient light. Restructuring the image into smaller image elements provides image quality for a video image or the like. An aspherical lens may be used to minimize or remove distortion of the image perceived by a viewer to the side, above or below the center viewing axis of the screen.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system comprising: 
 (a) an endoscope including a guide having a working channel, a light source and a lens, said guide coupled to means for receiving a medical instrument, to means for irrigating and to means for supplying a video image; and    (b) said endoscope coupled to a video camera;    (c) said video camera coupled to a video monitor;    (d) said video monitor coupled to a transparent screen which includes a plurality of generally parallel microprisms formed in the screen and extending horizontally across the width of the screen, said screen also coupled to an optical element operable to adjust the paths of light transmitted through said screen.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said optical element is an aspherical lens.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising said medical instrument and wherein said medical instrument is substantially tubular on its distal end.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said aspherical lens has a magnification power of approximately 1.25 to 2 times.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a first radius of said aspherical lens is 10 to 50 percent greater than a second radius of said aspherical lens.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein a first radius of said aspherical lens blends into a second radius of said aspherical lens.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said aspherical lens is comprised of more than two radii.  
     
     
         8 . A system comprising: 
 an instrument for retrieving biopsy cells from a body coupled to an apparatus for depth of field viewing, said apparatus including: 
 a transparent screen for positioning between a flat image and a viewer, said transparent screen including a plurality of optical elements formed in said screen; and  
 an aspherical lens for positioning between said screen and a viewer, said lens being curved across its width which curvature is defined by at least two radii.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said instrument includes a guide having a working channel, a light source and a lens, said guide coupled to means for receiving a medical instrument, to means for irrigating and to means for supplying a video image.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said aspherical lens has a magnification power of approximately 1.25 to 2 times.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein a first radius of said aspherical lens is 10 to 50 percent greater than a second radius of said aspherical lens.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein a first radius of said aspherical lens blends into a second radius of said aspherical lens.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said aspherical lens is comprised of more than two radii.  
     
     
         14 . A method of inspecting a breast with an endoscopic instrument wherein said endoscopic instrument includes a guide having a working channel, a light source and a lens; a first tube having a biopsy channel; a second tube having an irrigation channel; a third tube having an interior passageway; and a medical instrument for inserting into said biopsy channel and said working channel; said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting the distal end of said medical instrument into the dilated nipple of said breast; and    (b) projecting an image of the interior of said breast on a video monitor.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 (c) irrigating the interior of said breast by injecting liquid through said irrigation channel.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of 
 (c) extracting biopsy cells from said breast.  
 
     
     
         17 . A method of extracting biopsy cells using an endoscopic instrument having a distal end that is substantially needle like, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting said instrument into a body;    (b) causing liquid to be ejected from the distal end of said instrument;    (c) causing reverse pressure to form at the distal end of such instrument so that said liquid and biopsy cells are retrieved into said instrument; and    (d) extracting said cells from said body.    
     
     
         18 . A method of performing a medical procedure on the interior of a blood vessel using an endoscope having a substantially flexible guide of a length greater than one meter and which is optically coupled to a video monitor, said method comprising the steps of; 
 (a) inserting said guide into a blood vessel; and    (b) projecting an image of the interior of said blood vessel on said video monitor.    
     
     
         19 . A method of clearing a clogged area in a lacrimal duct using an endoscope that includes a guide having an outer diameter of not more than about 1.2 mm and a working channel defined therein having an outer diameter of not more than about 0.35 mm, a first tube portion coupled to said guide having a biopsy channel defined therein; said biopsy channel being capable of receiving a medical instrument, a second tube portion coupled to said guide and having an irrigation channel defined therein, and a third tube portion coupled to said guide and having defined therein an interior passageway for holding fiber optic strands; said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting said guide into the lacrimal duct of a patient;    (b) projecting an image of the interior of said duct on a video monitor;    (c) identifying the clogged area; and    (d) clearing said area with a laser.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of: 
 (e) irrigating the formerly clogged area by injecting a liquid through the irrigation channel.  
 
     
     
         21 . A method of treating a tumor in an interior cavity of a body using an endoscopic instrument comprising a guide having a working channel, a light source and a lens; a first tube having a biopsy channel; said first tube coupled to said guide; a second tube having an irrigation channel; said second tube coupled to said guide; a third tube having an interior passageway; said third tube coupled to said guide; and a medical instrument for inserting into said biopsy channel and said working channel; said medical instrument being substantially needle like at its distal end, said method comprising: 
 (a) inserting said guide into said cavity to approximately the position of the tumor;    (c) projecting an image of said tumor onto a video monitor; and    (b) injecting a chemotherpuetic liquid directly into said tumor by forcing said liquid through said irrigation channel and said working channel.    
     
     
         22 . The method of performing a medical procedure on the interior of a body using an endoscope coupled to a video monitor, said video monitor being coupled to a transparent screen which includes a plurality of generally parallel microprisms formed therein, said microprisms extending horizontally across the width of the screen, said screen coupled to an optical element operable to adjust the paths of light transmitted through said screen, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting said endoscope into said body; and    (b) projecting an image of the interior of said body on said screen.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said optical element is an aspherical lens.  
     
     
         24 . A system comprising: 
 an endoscope;    a video monitor coupled to said endoscope; and    an aspherical lens coupled to said video monitor.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said endoscope comprises a guide having a working channel, said guide coupled to means for supplying a video image.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said video monitor is coupled to a prismatic screen.  
     
     
         27 . A system comprising: 
 means for examining the interior of a bodily cavity or hollow organ;    means for displaying a video image coupled to said means for examining the interior of a bodily cavity or hollow organ; and    aspherical lens means coupled to said means for displaying a video image, said aspherical lens means configured for adjusting the path of light transmitted through said means for displaying a video image.    
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  wherein said aspherical lens means comprises a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature, wherein said second radius of curvature is at least 10 percent greater than said first radius of curvature.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  wherein said aspherical lens means comprises a third radius of curvature.  
     
     
         30 . A method of viewing the progress of a medical procedure comprising the steps of: 
 generating an image of the interior of a bodily cavity or organ;    displaying the image on a video monitor; and    passing the image through an aspherical lens.    
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of: 
 inserting a medical instrument into a bodily cavity.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the image is generated by a video camera, said video camera coupled to an endoscope comprising a guide having a working channel, a light source, and a lens.  
     
     
         33 . A system comprising: 
 an endoscope having a working channel of approximately 0.35 mm;    a video monitor coupled to said endoscope; and    an optical element, wherein said video monitor is coupled to said optical element.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  wherein said optical element is an aspherical lens.  
     
     
         35 . A system comprising: 
 an endoscope;    a cytology instrument, wherein said cytology instrument is slidably and releasably coupled within said endoscope;    a video monitor coupled to said endoscope; and    an optical element, said optical element coupled to said video monitor.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein said optical element is an aspherical lens.  
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein said aspherical lens comprises a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature, wherein said second radius of curvature is at least 10 percent greater than said first radius of curvature.  
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein said aspherical lens comprises a third radius of curvature.  
     
     
         39 . A system comprising: 
 an endoscope for examining the interior of a bodily cavity or hollow organ;    a video monitor coupled to said endoscope for displaying a video image;    a stepped aspherical lens coupled to said video monitor, said stepped aspherical lens configured to adjust the path of light transmitted through said video monitor.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein said stepped aspherical lens comprises at least a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature, wherein said second radius of curvature is at least 10 percent greater than said first radius of curvature.  
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein said stepped aspherical lens comprises a third radius of curvature.  
     
     
         42 . A method for making an ashperical lens from a lens material, comprising the steps of: 
 cutting a plurality of radii steps into a surface of the lens material; and    polishing the plurality of radii steps.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said polishing step forms the plurality of radii steps into a plurality of curved portions having a plurality of discrete radii.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein an arrangement of the plurality of curved portions having the plurality of discrete radii gives the aspherical lens an aspherical quality.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said cutting step occurs along a predefined curved path, which gives the aspherical lens a pseudo-spherical quality.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising, prior to said cutting step, the steps of: 
 mounting the lens material;    molding the lens material into a block of lens material; and    forming the lens material into a spherical lens.    
     
     
         47 . An aspherical lens produced in accordance with the method of  claim 42 .  
     
     
         48 . A cytology instrument for removing cells from a bodily material comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending main body portion having a proximal and a distal end, said distal end having a roughened surface and wherein said main body portion has a diameter of up to about 0.30 mm.    
     
     
         49 . A cytology instrument according to  claim 48 , wherein said instrument is made substantially from Nitinol or an alloy thereof.  
     
     
         50 . A cytology instrument according to  claim 48 , wherein said roughened surface is formed by exposing said distal end to a laser energy source.  
     
     
         51 . A cytology instrument according to  claim 48 , wherein said roughened surface is formed by stone grinding said distal end.  
     
     
         52 . A cytology instrument according to  claim 48 , wherein said roughened surface is formed by scoring said distal end using a combination of a tool and a die.  
     
     
         53 . A method of retrieving cells from a bodily material using a cytology instrument having a diameter of up to about 0.30 mm, said method comprising the steps of: 
 inserting the cytology instrument through a working channel of an endoscopic device;    scraping a surface of a targeted bodily tissue to remove material from the surface;    injecting a fluid through an irrigation channel of an endoscopic device, wherein the fluid mixes with the material removed from the surface forming a fluid-material mixture;    removing the cytology instrument from the working channel; and    aspirating the fluid-material mixture through the working channel.    
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 53 , wherein the cytology instrument is made from Nitinol.  
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 53 , wherein the cytology instrument comprises a longitudinally extending main body portion having a proximal and a distal end, said distal end having a roughened surface.