US-12616356-B2 - Endoscopic illumination sleeve

US12616356B2US 12616356 B2US12616356 B2US 12616356B2US-12616356-B2

Abstract

An endoscopic illumination sleeve includes a housing holding a plurality of LED light sources (LEDs) for providing light to respective light fibers, the housing forming a chamber sized for encircling an endoscope shaft. A flexible sleeve is coupled to the housing and including the light fibers, the flexible sleeve adapted to be placed around the endoscope shaft such that a distal end of the sleeve is positioned toward the distal end of the endoscope shaft and the light fibers extend from the housing to the distal end to illuminate a scene. The flexible sleeve and housing are adapted to be secured around the endoscope in a working position for a medical procedure, and to be removable therefrom. A kit may include multiple sleeves providing different lighting capabilities.

Inventors

Kent Watkiss
Jonathan Bormet
George E. Duckett, III

Assignees

KARL STORZ IMAGING, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230830

Claims (20)

1 . An endoscopic illumination sleeve comprising: a housing holding a plurality of LED light sources (LEDs) for providing light to respective light fibers, the housing forming a chamber sized for encircling an endoscope shaft; and a flexible sleeve coupled to the housing, terminated by a faceplate, and including the light fibers, the flexible sleeve adapted to be placed around the endoscope shaft such that a distal end of the sleeve is positioned toward the distal end of the endoscope shaft and the light fibers extend from the housing to the distal end to illuminate a scene, wherein the flexible sleeve and housing are adapted to be secured around the endoscope in a working position for a medical procedure, and to be removable therefrom; and wherein the faceplate is keyed to align with an endoscope on which the flexible sleeve is placed and includes an opening to allow access to a working channel of the endoscope.
2 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein the flexible sleeve is attachable and detachable from the housing.
3 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein the flexible sleeve is made of latex or nitrile.
4 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs provides light of a different spectrum than at least one of the other LEDs.
5 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein a first one of light fibers has a first numerical aperture and a second one of the light fibers has a second numerical aperture, different from the first numerical aperture.
6 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein the light fibers are glass fiber bundles.
7 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein the light fibers are plastic optical fibers (POFs).
8 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate includes at least one filter configured to filter a fluorescence excitation light.
9 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein: the housing includes at least three LEDs; and at least one of the LEDs provides light outside of the visible spectrum configured for fluorescence imaging (FI); and at least another one of the LEDs provides light in the visible spectrum.
10 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein: the housing includes at least three LEDs; the endoscopic illumination sleeve is configured to provides illumination for multi-spectral imaging (MSI); and at least another one of the LEDs provides light in the visible spectrum.
11 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate is transparent.
12 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 wherein the faceplate comprises a dichroic filter.
13 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate includes one of: an opening or door in the faceplate to access a working channel of the endoscope; and an opening wherein the key comprises a distal extension surrounding the opening on the back side of the faceplate keyed to fit in the working channel of the endoscope.
14 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the faceplate is keyed to align with an endoscope on which the flexible sleeve is placed and includes multiple filter elements to filter respective regions of the faceplate.
15 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein: the faceplate is an annular element that is positioned, when the flexible sleeve is placed in the working position, along a distal face of the endoscope; and the faceplate includes at least one spread lens coupled to at least one of the light fibers.
16 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the LEDs and configured to enable wireless control of the LEDs from an endoscope, camera head, or camera control unit.
17 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 16 , further comprising an identifier configured for communicating at least an identifying code to an endoscope, camera head, or camera control unit for identifying capabilities and properties of the endoscopic illumination sleeve.
18 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes proximal lenses and/or filters coupled to at least some of the light fibers.
19 . The endoscopic illumination sleeve of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of lenses each focusing light from a respective one of the LEDs onto a respective one of the light fibers.
20 . An endoscopic illumination sleeve comprising: a housing holding a plurality of LED light sources (LEDs) for providing light to respective light fibers, the housing forming a chamber sized for encircling an endoscope shaft; and a flexible sleeve coupled to the housing, terminated by a faceplate, and including the light fibers, the flexible sleeve adapted to be placed around the endoscope shaft such that a distal end of the sleeve is positioned toward the distal end of the endoscope shaft and the light fibers extend from the housing to the distal end to illuminate a scene, wherein the flexible sleeve and housing are adapted to be secured around the endoscope in a working position for a medical procedure, and to be removable therefrom, and wherein the faceplate is keyed to align with an endoscope on which the flexible sleeve is placed and includes multiple filter elements to filter respective regions of the faceplate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to endoscopic illumination, and in particular to a sleeve system for augmenting the illumination of an endoscope as well optionally providing improved sterility. Description of the Background Art Endoscopes often include an integrated illumination system for illuminating a scene within the field of view of the scope. This illumination system generally has a fixed set of capabilities, often providing a single type of illumination light and a limited capacity for delivery of illumination. One known light augmentation system is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,669, which discloses a disposable fiber optic sleeve that can be attached to an endoscope/needle for interocular surgery. The sleeve contains fiber optic bundles. The bundles can theoretically be used for illumination, video transmission and delivery of laser energy. Lenses may be incorporated at the distal ends of the fiber bundles to disperse or focus light. The sleeve is described as being made of a soft, plastic material, and the entire sleeve is described as being about an inch long. Another known sleeve system is found in U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2018/0172926 A1. This application discloses an elongated, hollow, flexible cylindrical illumination sleeve formed of a resin. This sleeve can be placed over an endoscopic shaft to provide an illumination source at the distal end of the endoscope. The proximal fiber bundle can be coupled with a light source. This publication also suggests the possibility of a transparent end closure to seal illumination end. A single illumination source is coupled to the entire fiber bundle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a goal of the invention to provide additional illumination capability to an endoscopic system. It is another goal of the invention to provide additional illumination in a way that simplifies and improves the sanitation process for the endoscopic system. It is another goal of the invention to provide additional provide auxiliary illumination and optical filtration means to an existing endoscope. It is another goal of the invention to provide easily interchangeable illumination/filtration options for existing endoscopes. It is another goal of the invention to provide a simplified control interface for an auxiliary illumination system. It is a further goal of the invention to provide a disposable auxiliary illumination capability whereby an endoscope can be protected from contamination. According to a first aspect of the invention, an endoscopic illumination sleeve includes a housing holding a plurality of LED light sources (LEDs) for providing light to respective light fibers, the housing forming a chamber sized for encircling an endoscope shaft. A flexible sleeve is coupled to the housing and including the light fibers, the flexible sleeve adapted to be placed around the endoscope shaft such that a distal end of the sleeve is positioned toward the distal end of the endoscope shaft and the light fibers extend from the housing to the distal end to illuminate a scene. The flexible sleeve and housing are adapted to be secured around the endoscope in a working position for a medical procedure, and to be removable therefrom. In some implementations, the flexible sleeve is created as a single use item attachable and detachable from the housing. In some implementations, the flexible sleeve is made of latex or nitrile. In some implementations at least one of the plurality of LEDs provides light of a different spectrum than at least one of the other LEDs. In some implementations a first one of light fibers has a first numerical aperture and a second one of the light fibers has a second numerical aperture, different from the first numerical aperture. In some implementations, the light fibers are glass fiber bundles. In some implementations, the light fibers are plastic optical fibers (POFs). The plastic optical fibers may be constructed with plastic selected for use with a fluorescence imaging (FI); and the flexible sleeve may include a distal faceplate constructed with at least one filter for filtering fluorescence excitation light. In some implementations, the flexible sleeve includes at least three LEDs with at least one of the LEDs providing light outside of the visible spectrum for FI imaging; and at least another one of the LEDs providing light in the visible spectrum. In some implementations, the flexible sleeve includes at least three LEDs, and the endoscopic illumination sleeve provides illumination for multi-spectral imaging (MSI), with at least another one of the LEDs provides light in the visible spectrum. In some implementations, the distal end of the flexible sleeve is constructed not to obstruct a working channel of the endoscope. In some implementations, the distal end of the flexible sleeve is constructed with elastic material adapted for holding the distal end of the flexible sleeve in a desired position relative to a