Light source power based on predetermined sensed condition

Abstract

A medical instrument having a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system comprising a light source and associated power controller, the system being configured to move from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on a sensed or determined changed condition, such as predetermined temperature and/or change in a scene or brightness signal, or lack of change, from an image sensor that may be associated with the instrument.

1 . A medical instrument comprising:
 a. one or more image sensors that monitor a state of activity;   b. a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system, comprising:
 i. a light source for illuminating an intracorporeal target area and 
 ii. an associated power controller, 
   wherein the power controller moves the lighting system from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on an input into the lighting system of a predetermined condition from the one or more image sensors indicative of whether or not the instrument is in active use, and   wherein the input is a change in the state of activity or a lack of change in the state of activity.   
     
     
         2 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a handheld instrument and the light source is disposed within a housing that comprises the handle of the instrument. 
     
     
         3 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope having a solid state light source on or in the instrument for illuminating a target area. 
     
     
         4 . The medical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the light source is disposed in a handle portion of the endoscope. 
     
     
         5 . The medical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the light source is disposed in a distal insertion end of the endoscope. 
     
     
         6 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument comprises an endoscope and the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope. 
     
     
         7 . The medical instrument of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope. 
     
     
         8 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The medical instrument of  claim 2 , wherein instrument is battery powered. 
     
     
         14 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the system maintains a temperature of a surface of the instrument held or otherwise contacted by a user at a temperature of below about 40 degrees C. 
     
     
         15 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the input comprises a signal from a piezoelectric sensor or an accelerometer associated with the instrument. 
     
     
         21 . The medical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the state of activity is a change in scene. 
     
     
         22 . The medical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the medical instrument includes a timer and the power controller moves the lighting system from the first illumination mode to the second illumination mode when the change in scene has not occured over a period of one minute. 
     
     
         23 . A medical instrument comprising:
 a. one or more image sensors that monitor a state of activity or brightness, wherein the image sensor includes a set of predetermined pixels that provide signals that are processed by a camera control unit to determine whether the monitored state of activity or brightness has a predetermined change;   b. a lighting system for illuminating a target area, the system, comprising:
 i. a light source for illuminating an intracorporeal target area and 
 ii. an associated power controller; and 
   c. a timer;   wherein the power controller moves the lighting system from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode based on an input into the lighting system of a predetermined condition from the one or more image sensors indicative of whether or not the instrument is in active use, and   wherein the input is a change in the state of activity or brightness and the timer measures that the change in the state of activity or brightness and when the state of activity of brightness has not changed over a period of one to three minutes the power controller moves the lighting system from a first illumination mode to a second illumination mode.   
     
     
         24 . The medical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the instrument is a handheld instrument and the light source is disposed within a housing that comprises the handle of the instrument, and the instrument comprises an endoscope having a solid state light source on or in the instrument for illuminating a target area. 
     
     
         25 . The medical instrument of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more image sensors are disposed within a distal insertion portion of the endoscope. 
     
     
         26 . The medical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein medical instrument includes an insertion tube that is coupled to the camera control unit, and
 wherein video images generated by the camera control unit are displayed on a video display device.   
     
     
         27 . The medical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the medical instrument includes a processor that checks the topological characteristics of a region proximal to the distal end of the endoscope so that the processor determines whether the distal end is inside a lumen or whether the distal end is within a chamber by analyzing characteristics of images from the one or more image sensors. 
     
     
         28 . The medical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the illumination source is one or more light emitting diodes, and
 wherein the one or more light emitting diodes in the first illumination mode run at a maximum.   
     
     
         29 . The medical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the illumination source is a fiberoptic light guide with a connection to the light source within the housing in the handle of the endoscope. 
     
     
         30 . The medical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the medical instrument includes a control process or that calculates a measure of image brightness to determine if the brightness has changed.