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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A portable laparoscope comprising:
 an elongated tube having a first end a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity, the elongated tube having an outside diameter of ten millimeters (10 mm) or less;   a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the second end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing;   an image capture device 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, the image capture device including at least one of a pin hole camera, a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, or a video camera;   a light source at the first end of the elongated tube proximate to the image capture device, the light source configured to emit a light to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;   a transparent window at the first end of the elongated tube forming a protective cover for the image capture device and the light source; and   an image display apparatus within the housing communicatively coupled with the image capture device via a wired connection through the elongated tube, the image display apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device to a remote display device.   
     
     
         22 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the remote display device is a high definition (HD) display device. 
     
     
         23 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the elongated tube is configured to articulate. 
     
     
         24 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises a handle. 
     
     
         25 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the transparent window comprises a quartz. 
     
     
         26 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the elongated tube comprises a medical grade material. 
     
     
         27 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         28 . A portable laparoscope comprising:
 an elongated tube having a first end a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity, the elongated tube having an outside diameter of ten millimeters (10 mm) or less;   a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the second end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing;   an image capture device 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, the image capture device including at least one of a pin hole camera, a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, or a video camera;   a light source at the first end of the elongated tube proximate to the image capture device, the light source configured to emit a light to an area within the field of view of the image capture device;   a transparent window at the first end of the elongated tube forming a protective cover for the image capture device and the light source; and   an image display apparatus within the housing communicatively coupled with the image capture device via a wired connection through the elongated tube, the image display apparatus for displaying an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device and transmitted to the image display apparatus via the wired connection.   
     
     
         29 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the image display apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the image of the body cavity captured by the image capture device to a remote display device. 
     
     
         30 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the remote display device is a high definition (HD) display device. 
     
     
         31 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the first end of the elongated tube is configured to articulate. 
     
     
         32 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the housing comprises a handle. 
     
     
         33 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the transparent window comprises a quartz. 
     
     
         34 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the elongated tube comprises a medical grade material. 
     
     
         35 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         36 . A portable laparoscope comprising:
 an elongated tube having a first end a second end, the first end of the elongated tube configured for at least partial insertion into a body cavity, the elongated tube having an outside diameter of ten millimeters (10 mm) or less;   a housing for supporting the elongated tube, the second end of the elongated tube coupled to the housing;   an image capture device 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, the image capture device including at least one of a pin hole camera, a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, or a video camera;   a light source at the first end of the elongated tube proximate to the image capture device, the light source configured to emit a light to an area within the field of view of the image capture device, the light source comprising a light emitting diode (LED);   a transparent window at the first end of the elongated tube forming a protective cover for the image capture device and the light source; and   an image display apparatus within the housing communicatively coupled with the image capture device via a wired connection through the elongated tube, the image display apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit an image of a body cavity captured by the image capture device to a high definition (HD) display device.   
     
     
         37 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the first end of the elongated tube is configured to articulate. 
     
     
         38 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the housing comprises a handle. 
     
     
         39 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the transparent window comprises a quartz. 
     
     
         40 . The portable laparoscope as recited in  claim 36 , wherein the elongated tube comprises a medical grade material.