System and Method for Wirelessly Transmitting Operational Data From an Endoscope to a Remote Device

Abstract

A system for wirelessly transmitting data from an endoscope, comprising an endoscope having a control body, an insertion tube extending from the control body, the distal end of the insertion tube containing an image sensor and a light source, and a control head connected to the control body, which comprises a battery; a light source amplifier connected to the battery, the light source amplifier operable to boost the intensity of the light source; a video processor configured to create compressed video data from a video stream captured via the image sensor; and a wireless communication module configured to negotiate a wireless connection with a mobile device, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the compressed video data to the mobile device over the wireless connection, and wherein the wireless communication module comprises a channel discriminator configured to automatically avoid RF interference.

In light of the foregoing disclosure, I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for wirelessly transmitting data from an endoscope, the system comprising:
 the endoscope having a control body and an insertion tube extending from the control body;   an image sensor located at the distal end of the insertion tube;   a light source located at the distal end of the insertion tube; and   a control head connected to the control body, having:   a battery;   a light source amplifier connected to the battery, the light source amplifier operable to boost the intensity of the light source;   a video processor configured to create video data from a video stream captured via the image sensor; and   a wireless communication module configured to negotiate a wireless connection with a mobile device, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the video data to the mobile device over the wireless connection, and wherein the wireless communication module comprises a channel discriminator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to negotiate a second wireless connection with a second mobile device and to simultaneously transmit the video data to the second mobile device over the second wireless connection. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication is configured to broadcast the video data to at least two wireless mobile devices. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a relay configured to wirelessly connect to the wireless communication module and to forward the video data over a network.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein data transmitted over the wireless connection is encrypted. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a wearable device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power management module configured to monitor the charge level of the battery, wherein the power management module is further configured to broadcast the charge level of the battery via the wireless communication module.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control head further comprises a light source intensity control. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control head further comprises a battery level indicator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control head further comprises a network connection indicator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion tube is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion tube is rigid. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a hanging apparatus coupled to the system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control head is coupled with the control body to form a hermetic seal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is inductively charged. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control head is contained in a separate enclosure and is attached to the control body via an interface. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the battery is charged via the interface. 
     
     
         19 . A method of sharing data on a mobile device wirelessly connected to an endoscope, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a wireless connection from a first device to the endoscope;   receiving video data on the first device from the endoscope over the wireless connection;   creating a symbol on the first device based on the video data received from the endoscope; and   transmitting the symbol to a second device connected to the endoscope, the symbol to be displayed on the second device alongside the video data.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the symbol is an image created by drawing on a touch screen. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second device comprises a head-mounted display. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 recording audio on the first device, the audio generated in response to the video data received from the wireless endoscope; and   transmitting the audio to the second device, the audio to be played back simultaneously alongside the video data.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second device is a remote device indirectly connected to the endoscope via a relay. 
     
     
         24 . A case for transporting and for stowing an endoscope system, comprising:
 a rigid outer shell;
 a charging interface; 
   a transformer connected to the charging interface;   a power management controller configured to manage charging of the endoscope system;   a power cord connected to the transformer; and   a battery level indicator configured to monitor power status notifications from the endoscope system.   
     
     
         25 . The case of  claim 24 , wherein a first side of the rigid outer shell comprises a pattern of protrusions, and wherein a second side of the rigid outer shell comprises a pattern of recesses that complement the pattern of protrusions; 
     
     
         26 . The case of  claim 24 , wherein the charging interface comprises coils operable to charge the endoscope system using wireless induction. 
     
     
         27 . The case of  claim 24 , wherein the charging interface comprises an adapter that connects to the control head of the endoscope system. 
     
     
         28 . The case of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a conductive interface on the exterior of the rigid outer shell oriented to form a conductive network when one stackable case is joined with another stackable case.   
     
     
         29 . The case of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a force damping system nested within the rigid outer shell.   
     
     
         30 . The case of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a cavity within the force damping system suitable to receive the endoscope system.