Endoscope With Multiple Views And Novel Configurations Adapted Thereto

Abstract

Disclosed is an endoscope system, which comprises an endoscope, the endoscope having at its distal end multiple cameras each having a different field of view (FOV). The system also comprises an image processing box adapted to receive images of different FOVs from the multiple cameras and process the image to form a consolidated image covering 360-degree view of areas surrounding the distal end using the received images of different FOVs and image-stitching techniques.

1 . An endoscope system comprising:
 an endoscope having a single shaft having a distal end receivable in a hollow gastrointestinal tract and a proximal end, the shaft extending from the proximal end along a longitudinal axis in a forward direction towards the distal end;   a camera positioned at or near the distal end;   a first light operable to be turned on-and-off and positioned adjacent to the camera;   a second light operable to be turned on-and-off and positioned adjacent to the camera on an opposite side of the camera than the first light, wherein the first and second lights are separated by a pitch distance; and   a light selector operative to select between turning the first light on-and-off and turning the second light on-and-off.   
     
     
         2 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the light selector is a user-operable switching device. 
     
     
         3 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the light selector is operable to select an intensity of light provided by the first light when the first light is selected to be on and to select an intensity of light provided by the second light when the second light is selected to be on. 
     
     
         4 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the first light is positioned closer to the distal end and the second light is positioned closer to the proximal end. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a side view camera disposed on a side periphery of the single shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a front view camera disposed facing the forward direction. 
     
     
         7 . The endoscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is a rear view camera disposed in front of the distal end. 
     
     
         8 . A method for performing a shadow-casting operation during an endoscopy procedure comprising:
 inserting an endoscope into a gastrointestinal tract, the endoscope including   
       a camera at or near a distal end, and first and second lights positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of the camera;
 identifying a target in the gastrointestinal tract using the camera; 
 selecting the first light to be illuminated and the second to be off; 
 selecting a distance from the target; 
 viewing a first shadow from the illumination of the first light on one side of the target; 
 while maintaining the endoscope in a static position with regard to the target, selecting the second light to be illuminated and the first light to be off; and 
 viewing a second shadow from the illumination of the second light on another side of the target. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein selecting the distance from the target comprises selecting a shadow size. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein selecting the shadow size is based a plurality of factors represented by the equation,
 X=H/D*(W/2+P/2), wherein X is the shadow size, H is a height of the target, D is a distance to the target, W is a width of the target, and P is a pitch distance between the first and second lights.