Tethered endoscope

Abstract

An endoscope with flexible cable is described having a first set of means to facilitate travel of an imaging capsule down the esophagus, a second set of means to enable proper orientation and optical clarity of the capsule, and a third set of means to enable ease in retrieval of the device. In most embodiments, there is an overlap of these sets of means, the combination of which assures optimal exam effectiveness while maintaining a high degree of patient comfort. The endoscope can target low cost, high volume screening for diseases of the upper digestive tract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An esophageal probe comprising:
 a tethered imaging capsule;   at least one swallowing aid configured to be removably or temporarily attached to the tethered imaging capsule and to be digested or passed through a user's bowel.   
     
     
         2 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , comprising an elastic lock mechanism coupling the swallowing aid and the tethered imaging capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the esophageal probe is configured such that the swallowing aid detaches from the imaging capsule by operation of a primary tether coupled to the imaging capsule. 
     
     
         4 . The esophageal probe of  claim 3 , wherein the swallowing aid is tethered to the imaging capsule by at least one secondary tether. 
     
     
         5 . The esophageal probe of  claim 3 , wherein the primary tether comprises a component having low longitudinal compliance. 
     
     
         6 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the esophageal probe is configured such that operation of a primary tether coupled to the imaging capsule detaches the imaging capsule from the primary tether. 
     
     
         7 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid is flavored. 
     
     
         8 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid is scented to enhance palatability. 
     
     
         9 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid is provided with a tactile property to enhance palatability. 
     
     
         10 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , further comprising a cell-collection feature coupled to the esophageal probe. 
     
     
         11 . The esophageal probe of  claim 10 , wherein the cell-collection feature is a sponge material. 
     
     
         12 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one weight-increasing feature comprising high-density metallic material. 
     
     
         13 . The esophageal probe of  claim 12 , wherein the high-density metallic material has a density that is at least 30% of the density of tungsten. 
     
     
         14 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein a primary tether is coupled to the imaging capsule so as to form a taper that tapers along the primary tether in a direction away from the imaging capsule. 
     
     
         15 . The esophageal probe of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one weight-increasing feature comprises a plurality of beads within a region of the taper. 
     
     
         16 . A method of administering an esophageal exam to a patient, comprising:
 attaching a swallowing aid to a tethered imaging capsule to form an esophageal probe; and   the patient swallowing the esophageal probe.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  comprising:
 causing removal of the swallowing aid; and 
 withdrawing the tethered imaging capsule from the patient's esophagus. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein removal of the removable swallowing aid comprises an operator operating a tether of the tethered imaging capsule. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising coating at least part of the esophageal probe with a coating during swallowing. 
     
     
         20 . An esophageal probe, comprising a tethered reusable portion and a one-time-use portion, wherein the tethered reusable portion is configured to be retrieved from a patient's esophagus and the one-time-use portion is configured to be swallowed by the patient. 
     
     
         21 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid is textured to enhance palatability. 
     
     
         22 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid is colored to enhance palatability. 
     
     
         23 . The esophageal probe of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one weight-increasing feature comprises metallic particles doped or distributed within a region of the taper. 
     
     
         24 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises agar. 
     
     
         25 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises silicone. 
     
     
         26 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises a material that dissolves or melts during swallowing. 
     
     
         27 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises hydrocolloid. 
     
     
         28 . An esophageal probe system comprising:
 a tethered imaging capsule; and   a tether removeably coupled to the imaging capsule, comprising:
 at least one member providing linkage between the tether and imaging capsule, the member being configured to be broken or disconnected. 
   
     
     
         29 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 28  further comprising at least one swallowing aid configured to be removeably attached to the tethered imaging capsule and to be digested or passed through a user's bowel. 
     
     
         30 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 1 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises one or more alignment features configured to align an axis of the imaging capsule with an axis of a patient's esophagus. 
     
     
         31 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more alignment features comprise a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         32 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 1 , comprising circuitry for sensing disconnection of the at least one conductor and for deactivating the imaging capsule. 
     
     
         33 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging capsule comprises means for providing forward illumination. 
     
     
         34 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 33 , wherein the means for providing forward illumination comprises a light source and a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the light source, wherein the optical are configured to form an illumination ring. 
     
     
         35 . The esophageal probe of  claim 33 , wherein the means for providing forward illumination comprises a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light guides each coupled to one of the plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         36 . The esophageal probe of  claim 14 , wherein the taper comprises a proximal body region and a distal tail region, wherein the proximal body region comprises a rigid body and the distal tail region is flexible. 
     
     
         37 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , comprising a sponge tethered to the imaging capsule. 
     
     
         38 . The esophageal probe of  claim 14 , wherein the taper is configured to undergo compression in response to muscular action of the esophagus. 
     
     
         39 . The esophageal probe of  claim 34 , wherein ends of at least some of the optical fibers are arranged so as to be non-co-planar with respect to a central axis of the imaging capsule so as to produce a desired light distribution. 
     
     
         40 . The esophageal probe system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one member providing linkage between the tether and imaging capsule is configured to be broken or disconnected by at least one of: i.) a mechanical impulse applied via the tether; and ii) application of heat. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the coating provides low friction properties. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the coating enhances palatability. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the coating provides low friction properties and enhances palatability. 
     
     
         44 . The esophageal probe of  claim 24 , wherein the swallowing aid comprises a mixture of agar and a sweetening agent. 
     
     
         45 . The esophageal probe of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging capsule comprising:
 a light source;   a roughly circular bundle of optical fibers optically coupled to the light source, the roughly circular bundle having a first diameter;   wherein the bundle of optical fibers are arranged to fan out so as to form an illumination ring of optical fibers arranged in a circular arrangement of a second diameter greater than the first diameter.   
     
     
         46 . The esophageal probe of  1 , wherein the imaging capsule comprises:
 a light source; and   a ring member comprising a central aperture within which the light source is situated, wherein a periphery of the ring member comprises a plurality of vias for passing electrical leads.   
     
     
         47 . An esophageal probe comprising:
 a cylindrical imaging capsule having a diameter;   a tether having a largest cross-sectional dimension at least twice as small as the diameter of the imaging capsule; and   a taper coupled to the imaging capsule and the tether;   wherein at least a portion of the imaging capsule comprises a dense metal having a density that is at least 50% of the density of tungsten.