Intelligent endoscopy systems and methods

Abstract

Endoscope sheaths and associated endoscopy data collection and analysis systems and methods are described. In one implementation an endoscope sheath include a body and one or more sensors disposed in the body. The sheath may further include a leak detection apparatus configured to detect leaks in the sheath body. In addition, the sheath may include actuator apparatus, such as a balloon catheter or other surgical instrument. Data from the endoscope and endoscope sheath may be collected, fused and displayed for use in medical procedures and/or analysis.

1 . An endoscope sheath, comprising:
 a body including an exterior surface, an interior surface and a cavity bounded by the interior surface, the cavity disposed for receiving an endoscope; and   one or more sensors disposed in the body.   
     
     
         2 . The sheath of  claim 1  wherein the one or more sensors include a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The sheath of  claim 2  wherein the one or more sensors further include a temperate sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The sheath of  claim 3  wherein the one or more sensors further include a pH sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The sheath of  claim 2  wherein the one or more sensors include a plurality of pressure sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The sheath of  claim 2  wherein the one or more sensors further include an acoustic sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The sheath of  claim 6  wherein the acoustic sensor is a microphone. 
     
     
         8 . The sheath of  claim 2  further comprising one or more position detection elements disposed in the sheath body. 
     
     
         9 . The sheath of  claim 8  wherein the one or more position detection elements comprise one or more Hall effect sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The sheath of  claim 8  wherein the one or more position detection elements comprise a magnetic element. 
     
     
         11 . The sheath of  claim 2  further comprising a heating element disposed in the sheath. 
     
     
         12 . The sheath of  claim 11  wherein the sheath includes an optical port coupled to the body, and wherein the heating element is disposed on or near the optical port. 
     
     
         13 . The sheath of  claim 2 , further comprising a leak detection apparatus configured to detect a leak in the body. 
     
     
         14 . The sheath of  claim 13  wherein the leak detection apparatus is configured to detect the leak using electrical sensing. 
     
     
         15 . The sheath of  claim 14  wherein the leak detection apparatus comprises a conductive material disposed on the interior surface of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The sheath of  claim 15  wherein the leak detection apparatus further includes a leak detection circuit electrically coupled to the conductive material. 
     
     
         17 . The sheath of  claim 15  further comprising an insulating layer disposed between the conductive material and the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The sheath of  claim 15  further comprising one or more pressure sensors disposed in the body. 
     
     
         19 . The sheath of  claim 13  wherein the leak detection apparatus is configured to detect the leak using pneumatic sensing. 
     
     
         20 . The sheath of  claim 19  further including a sealing mechanism at the distal end of the body, said sealing mechanism configured to seal the cavity subsequent to insertion of an endoscope in the sheath. 
     
     
         21 . The sheath of  claim 2  wherein the pressure sensor is disposed in contact with the cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The sheath of  claim 13  wherein the leak detection apparatus includes an airflow sensor disposed in contact with the cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The sheath of  claim 2 , further comprising an actuator apparatus disposed in the sheath body. 
     
     
         24 . The sheath of  claim 23  wherein the actuator apparatus comprises a balloon catheter apparatus. 
     
     
         25 . The sheath of  claim 24  wherein the balloon catheter is disposed in part within the sheath body. 
     
     
         26 . The sheath of  claim 25  wherein the balloon catheter is disposed in part on the exterior of the body. 
     
     
         27 . The sheath of  claim 25  wherein the balloon catheter is disposed in part on the interior of the sheath body. 
     
     
         28 . The sheath of  claim 23  further comprising a surgical instrument disposed in part within the body. 
     
     
         29 . The sheath of  claim 28  wherein the surgical instrument comprises one or more scalpel elements. 
     
     
         30 . The sheath of  claim 23  further comprising a second actuator apparatus. 
     
     
         31 . The sheath of  claim 30  wherein the actuator apparatus comprises a balloon catheter and the second actuator apparatus comprises a stent placement apparatus. 
     
     
         32 . A system for performing endoscopy, comprising:
 an endoscopy sheath, said endoscope sheath including one or more sensors; and   an endoscopy analysis module, said analysis module including:   a processor;   a memory coupled to the processor; and   an input module coupled to the processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:   receive data from the one or more sensors;   receive data from an endoscope coupled to the analysis module;   fuse the data from the one or more sensors and the data from an endoscope; and   stored the fused data in the memory.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32  further including a display configured to display the data from the one or more sensors and the data from the endoscope. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the data from the one or more sensors includes pressure data and the data from an endoscope includes video or one or more images. 
     
     
         35 . A machine readable medium containing instructions for execution by a computer to:
 receive data from one or more sensors disposed on an endoscope sheath;   receive data from an endoscope;   fuse the data from the one or more sensors and the data from an endoscope; and   stored the fused data in a memory.   
     
     
         36 . The machine readable medium of  claim 35  further including instructions to display the data from an endoscope and the data from one or more sensors. 
     
     
         37 . A method of performing an endoscopy procedure, comprising:
 generating sensor data from a body cavity of a patient, wherein the sensor data is provided from one or more sensors disposed on an endoscope sheath positioned on an endoscope; and   providing the sensor data to a endoscopy analysis module.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 Receiving data from the endoscope; 
 fusing the sensor data with the data from the endoscope to generate fused data; and 
 storing the fused data in a memory. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the fused data includes pressure data and video data or image data. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  further including sensing a leak in the endoscope sheath; and
 providing an indication of the leak on a display device or alarm.