Portable laparoscope system

Abstract

A portable laparoscope is disclosed. In implementations, the portable laparoscope includes a housing and an elongated tube coupled to the housing. A lighting source and a camera are disposed proximate to an end of the elongated tube opposite the housing. The camera is configured to capture an image in a viewing area that is illuminated by light provided by the lighting source. The portable laparoscope includes an image display apparatus configured to display the images acquired by the camera and/or to transmit the images to a remote display device. The housing may be configured to hold and position an insufflator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable laparoscope system comprising:
 a housing;   an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the second end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing, the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;   an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;   a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;   an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; and   an image display apparatus disposed of the housing and coupled with the image capture device for at least one of displaying or transmitting an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device.   
     
     
         2 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the image display apparatus comprises a transmitter communicatively coupled to the image capture device, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image to a receiver communicatively coupled to an image display device. 
     
     
         3 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the image display apparatus comprises a display configured to display the image. 
     
     
         4 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network. 
     
     
         5 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network conforming to 802.11 standards. 
     
     
         6 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission network. 
     
     
         7 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to the light source, the image capture device, the insufflator, and the image display apparatus, the power source configured to provide a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light source, the image capture device, the insufflators, or the image display apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the power source comprises a battery. 
     
     
         9 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , the insufflator further comprising:
 a portable gas supply;   a gas tube for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and   a gas regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas tube.   
     
     
         10 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the insufflator is disposed in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a memory interface disposed of the housing, the memory interface configured to receive a removable memory element.   
     
     
         12 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the image display apparatus comprises a projection device. 
     
     
         13 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display device. 
     
     
         14 . The portable laparoscope system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the image display apparatus and the image capture device are communicatively coupled via a wired configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A portable laparoscope comprising:
 an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;   a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with the second end of the elongated tube;   an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;   a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;   an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted;   a display disposed of the housing and coupled with the image capture device for displaying an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device; and   a power source disposed in the housing and coupled to the light source, the image capture device, the insufflator, and the display, the power source configured to provide a sufficient operational power to at least one of the light source, the image capture device, the insufflators, and the display.   
     
     
         16 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display device. 
     
     
         17 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the insufflator further comprises:
 a portable gas supply;   a gas tube for transporting gas from the portable gas supply; and   a gas regulator disposed between the portable gas supply and the gas tube.   
     
     
         18 . A portable laparoscope comprising:
 an elongated tube comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity;   a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the housing coupled with the second end of the elongated tube;   an image capture device disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the image capture device configured to capture an image within a field of view of the image capture device;   a light source disposed at the first end of the elongated tube, the light source configured to emit a light proximate to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;   an insufflator configured to provide a gas for inflating a body cavity into which the elongated tube is inserted; and   a transmitter disposed of the housing and communicatively coupled with the image capture device for transmitting an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device to a receiver coupled to an image display device.   
     
     
         19 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the image via a wireless network. 
     
     
         20 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the wireless network comprises a free-space optical transmission network.