Laser video endoscope

Abstract

Laser video endoscope has laser guide, illumination guide and image guide which extend through optical probe and through hand piece that supports the probe. Hand piece is connected by optical fiber cable to laser energy source and illumination source. Image is transmitted from hand piece to image processing interface by camera assembly optically coupled and mounted directly to hand piece and via electrical cable extending from camera assembly. Camera and its electrical cable can be uncoupled from hand piece and reused. The rest of the product, including probe and hand piece, can be disposed of after each medical routine. Probe can have proximal portion and distal portion such that proximal portion extends from distal end of hand piece, and outside diameter of proximal portion as measured at least near the distal end of hand piece is greater than the outside diameter of the distal portion.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A surgical endoscope comprising:
 a hand piece comprising a cavity, a distal surface, a first surface comprising a first opening to said cavity, and a second surface comprising a second opening to said cavity;   a probe extending distally from said distal surface of said hand piece, said probe comprising a proximal end in communication with said cavity at said distal surface of said hand piece;   an illumination guide extending from said distal end of said probe to said proximal end of said probe, extending from said proximal end of said probe into said cavity, and extending through said cavity to said first opening of said hand piece, said illumination guide comprising an illumination guide distal end terminating at a distal end of said probe;   a laser guide extending from said distal end of said probe to said proximal end of said probe, extending from said proximal end of said probe into said cavity, and extending through said cavity to said first opening of said hand piece, said laser guide comprising a laser guide distal end terminating at said distal end of said probe; and   an image guide extending from said distal end of said probe to said proximal end of said probe, extending from said proximal end of said probe into said cavity, and extending through said cavity to said second opening of said hand piece, said image guide comprising an image guide distal end terminating at said distal end of said probe and an image guide proximal end terminating at said second surface of said hand piece,   wherein said hand piece is detachable to a camera assembly at said second surface of said hand piece to optically couple said image guide proximal end to said camera assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a laser and illumination first channel in said hand piece extending from said first opening;   an image second channel in said hand piece extending from said second opening; and   a laser and illumination and image third channel in said hand piece extending proximally from said distal surface;   wherein   said probe extends distally from said third channel at said distal surface of said hand piece, said probe containing said illumination guide, said laser guide and said image guide,   said illumination, laser and image guides extend into said third channel from said proximal end of said probe,   said first channel comprises a first axis,   said second channel comprises a second axis,   said third channel comprises a third axis, and   said second and third axes are substantially coaxial, and   said first axis having a non-zero angle relationship to said second and third axis.   
     
     
         3 . The endoscope of  claim 2 , wherein,
 said hand piece includes a proximally extending nose for engaging a camera assembly,   said second channel extending through said nose, and   said second proximal surface constituting the end of said nose.   
     
     
         4 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said image guide is constituted by optical fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said illumination guide includes a set of optical fibers that, in said probe, are nested around said laser and image guides to fill the space within said probe. 
     
     
         6 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said camera assembly comprises a latch adapted to removably mount the camera assembly to the hand piece. 
     
     
         7 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said camera assembly is directly mounted to the hand piece and an output of the camera assembly is adapted to be coupled to a remote display by an electric cable. 
     
     
         8 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein said probe comprises:
 a distal portion extending proximally from said distal end of said probe; and   a proximal portion extending distally from said proximal end of said probe,   said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter, at least approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall and approximately a 710 mil length,   said proximal portion of said probe having at least an approximately 35 mil outer diameter and at least an approximately five mil thick sidewall,   said laser guide comprising a fiber having a cross sectional first surface approximately 100 microns in diameter,   said image comprising fibers forming an essentially contiguous cross sectional second surface approximately 14 mils in diameter,   wherein said first surface and said second surface do not overlap, and the probe is adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The endoscope of  claim 8  wherein said sidewall of said probe is metal. 
     
     
         10 . The endoscope of  claim 8  wherein said imaging component comprises a fiber optic bundle having approximately 6,000 fibers 7 forming said essentially contiguous cross sectional second surface. 
     
     
         11 . The endoscope of  claim 8  wherein said illumination fiber optic bundle comprises approximately 70 fibers essentially surrounding said laser guide fiber and said imaging component. 
     
     
         12 . The endoscope of  claim 8 , wherein:
 said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,   a camera coupled to said imaging component, and   a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         13 . The endoscope of  claim 10 , wherein:
 said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,   a camera coupled to said imaging component, and   a blocking filter between said fiber optic bundle and said camera to block the wavelength of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         14 . The endoscope of  claim 12 , wherein said probe is metal. 
     
     
         15 . The endoscope of  claim 13  wherein said probe is metal. 
     
     
         16 . A laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic surgery having a hand piece, comprising:
 a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,   said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,   said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter and approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall and having a length of approximately 710 mils,   said proximal portion of said probe having at least an approximately 35 mil outer diameter and at least an approximately five mil thick sidewall,   said probe containing a laser guide fiber having a cross sectional first surface, an imaging component having an essentially contiguous cross sectional second surface, and an illumination fiber bundle,   wherein said first surface and said second surface do not overlap, and the probe is adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The endoscope of  claim 16  wherein:
 said laser guide fiber being approximately 100 microns in diameter, said imaging component being approximately 14 mils in diameter. 
 
     
     
         18 . The endoscope of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,   a camera coupled to said imaging component, and   a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         19 . A laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic comprising:
 a hand piece; and   a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,   said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,   said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter and approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall,   said probe containing a laser guide fiber, an imaging component and an illumination fiber bundle,   said laser guide fiber having a cross sectional first surface approximately 100 microns in diameter,   said imaging component having an essentially contiguous cross sectional second surface approximately 14 mils in diameter,   wherein said first surface and said second surface do not overlap, and the probe is adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . The endoscope of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said laser fiber is adapted to transmit approximately 532 nanometer laser energy,   a camera coupled to said imaging component, and   a blocking filter between said imaging component and said camera to block wavelengths of said laser energy, said filter being otherwise transparent to visible light.   
     
     
         21 . A laser video endoscope for ophthalmologic surgery comprising:
 a hand piece; and   a hollow rigid probe extending distally of the hand piece,   said probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion,   said distal portion of said probe having approximately a 25 mil outer diameter, and at least approximately a 2 mil thick sidewall,   said proximal portion of said probe having at least an approximately 35 mil outer diameter and at least an approximately five mil thick sidewall,   said probe containing a laser guide fiber, an imaging component and an illumination fiber bundle,   said laser guide fiber having a cross sectional first surface approximately 100 microns in diameter,   said imaging component having an essentially contiguous cross sectional second surface approximately 14 mils in diameter,   wherein said first surface and said second surface do not overlap, and the probe is adapted to pass through a 23 gauge sleeve.   
     
     
         22 . The endoscope of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion of the probe has a length of 120 mils. 
     
     
         23 . The endoscope of  claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of the probe has a length of 120 mils. 
     
     
         24 . The endoscope of  claim 19 , wherein the proximal portion of the probe has a length of 120 mils. 
     
     
         25 . The endoscope of  claim 21 , wherein the proximal portion of the probe has a length of 120 mils. 
     
     
         26 . The endoscope of  claims 1 , wherein said hand piece comprises a first section and a second section, wherein
 when said first section is attached to said second section, said first and second sections from at least a portion of a body of said hand piece, said body comprising said cavity.   
     
     
         27 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection for removably attaching said hand piece to said camera assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The endoscope of  claim 27 , wherein said connection latches said hand piece and said camera assembly allowing axial rotational movement of said probe with respect to said camera assembly while maintaining said optical coupling of said image guide proximal end to said camera assembly. 
     
     
         29 . The endoscope of  claim 28 , wherein orientation of image output from said camera assembly is independent of rotational movement of said probe with respect to said camera assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second surface comprise a proximal surface of said hand piece.