EP-4734815-A1 - ENDOSCOPE SENSOR INTERFERENCE MITIGATION

Abstract

Described herein is an endoscopic system for use with a laser source. The endoscopic system is configured to synchronize measurement, captured by an endoscopic sensor, of physical characteristics of an environment with lasing by the laser source. The endoscopic system is further configured to modify measurements captured by the endoscopic sensor based on lasing by the laser source.

Inventors

• WAISMAN, TAL

Assignees

• Lumenis Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (15)

1. 1. A method for an endoscope system, comprising: receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of a pulse start control signal and one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start control signal to define an initiation of lasing by the lasing console and the one or more laser pulse characteristics to define the lasing; determining, by the processor, a measurement time period for a sensor of the endoscope system based on the pulse start control signal and the one or more laser pulse characteristics; and receiving by the processor or generating by the processor, sensor measurements based on the measurement time period.
2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving by the processor sensor measurements based on the measurement time period comprising: generating a control signal, the control signal to cause the sensor to measure a physical characteristic of an environment in which the endoscope is disposed based on the measurement time period; and receiving, at the processor from the sensor, an information element comprising indications of the physical characteristic measured based on the measurement time period.
3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the control signal comprises an indication of the measurement time period and an indication to measure the physical characteristic outside the measurement time period.
4. 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the control signal comprises an indication to power gate the sensor during the measurement time period.
5. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein generating by the processor sensor measurements based on the measurement time period comprising: receiving, at the processor from the sensor, an information element comprising indications of physical characteristic of an environment measured by the sensor; and generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period.
6. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period comprising removing measurements captured during the measurement time period.
7. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period comprising normalizing measurements captured during the measurement time period based on measurements captured outside the measurement time period.
8. 8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a frequency of pulses to be generated by the lasing console.
9. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a pulse width of the pulses.
10. 10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein determining the measurement time period comprising: determining an initiation of one or more laser pulses based on the pulse start control signal; determining a pulse width of the one or more laser pulses based on the one or more laser pulse characteristics; determining a conclusion of the one or more laser pulses based on the pulse width; and determining the measurement time period based on the initiation and conclusion of the one or more laser pulses.
11. 11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein determining the measurement time period comprising: determining a first instance where an intensity of one or more laser pulses exceeds a threshold value; determining a second instance subsequent to the first instance where an intensity of the one or more laser pulses does not exceed the threshold value; and determining the measurement time period based on the first instance and the second instance.
12. 12. A computer readable storage device comprising instructions that when executed by a processor of an endoscopic system cause the endoscopic system to implement the method of any one of claim 1 to claim 11.
13. 13. An endoscopic system comprising: an endoscope comprising one or more working channels; an endoscopic sensor; and an endoscopic controller comprising a processor a memory comprising instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the processor to implement the method of any one of claim 1 to claim 11.
14. 14. The endoscopic system of claim 13, wherein the lasing console comprises a Thulium fiber laser source or a Holmium laser source.
15. 15. The endoscopic system of either of claim 13 or 14, wherein the sensor is to be inserted into a working channel of the endoscope.

Description

ENDOSCOPE SENSOR INTERFERENCE MITIGATION CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/511,430 filed on June 30, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present disclosure generally relates to endoscopes and particularly, but not exclusively, to mitigating interference with endoscope sensors when used in conjunction with a surgical laser system. BACKGROUND [0003] Endoscopes are used to obtain an internal view of a patient. Further, endoscopes often include multiple working channels in which various surgical devices and tools can be inserted. For example, during a lithotripsy procedure, a fiber optic cable is inserted through a working channel of an endoscope (or ureteroscope to be precise) and light from the fiber optic cable can be used to ablate a target (e.g., stone, or the like). Endoscopes are often equipped with sensors or include additional working channels through which sensors can be positioned in the treatment environment to monitor conditions of the environment. [0004] Conventionally, such sensors cannot be used during active lasing. However, there is a need to mitigate interference with sensor measurements and provide for the use of sensors during a procedure and/or in conjunction with lasing. BRIEF SUMMARY [0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to necessarily identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0006] The present disclosure provides an endoscopic laser lithotripsy device and methods for such a device where sensor use and/or sensor measurements can be acquired without interference from the laser. [0007] The embodiments described herein can be implemented as a method for an endoscope system. The method can comprise receiving, at a processor of an endoscope console, an indication of a pulse start control signal and one or more laser pulse characteristics, the pulse start control signal to define an initiation of lasing by the lasing console and the one or more laser pulse characteristics to define the lasing; determining, by the processor, a measurement time period for a sensor of the endoscope system based on the pulse start control signal and the one or more laser pulse characteristics; and receiving by the processor or generating by the processor, sensor measurements based on the measurement time period. [0008] In further embodiments of the method, receiving by the processor sensor measurements based on the measurement time period comprising generating a control signal, the control signal to cause the sensor to measure a physical characteristic of an environment in which the endoscope is disposed based on the measurement time period; and receiving, at the processor from the sensor, an information element comprising indications of the physical characteristic measured based on the measurement time period. [0009] In further embodiments of the method, the control signal comprises an indication of the measurement time period and an indication to measure the physical characteristic outside the measurement time period. [0010] In further embodiments of the method, the control signal comprises an indication to power gate the sensor during the measurement time period. [0011] In further embodiments of the method, generating by the processor sensor measurements based on the measurement time period can comprise receiving, at the processor from the sensor, an information element comprising indications of physical characteristic of an environment measured by the sensor; and generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period. [0012] In further embodiments of the method, generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period can comprise removing measurements captured during the measurement time period. [0013] In further embodiments of the method, generating, by the processor, the sensor measurements based on the physical characteristics and the measurement time period can comprise normalizing measurements captured during the measurement time period based on measurements captured outside the measurement time period. [0014] In further embodiments of the method, the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a frequency of pulses to be generated by the lasing console. [0015] In further embodiments of the method, the one or more laser pulse characteristics define a pulse width of the pulses. [0016] In further embodiments of the method, determining the measurement time period can comprise determining an initiation of one or more laser pulses based on the pulse start