System for detecting the location of an endoscopic device during a medical procedure

Abstract

A system for detecting the location of an endoscopic device inside a patients' body comprises an endoscope assembly with an insertion tube having a set of codes indicative of an insertion depth and a rotational direction of the endoscopic device and a detector to detect the set of codes and calculate the location information. The images captured by the endoscopic device are automatically tagged with corresponding location information. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a system for generating three dimensional images and videos without increasing the number of cameras. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a system having a plurality of sensor devices for generating a real time image map of an endoscopic tip portion traversing a lumen. Optionally, the endoscope assembly further comprises a special garment for colonoscopy patients to preserve the modesty of the patients and to protect a physician from spraying fecal matter.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An endoscope assembly comprising:
 an endoscope comprising:
 a control handle configured to control one or more functions of the endoscope; 
 an insertion tube having a length extending distally from said control handle; and 
 at least one imaging assembly at a tip section of the insertion tube configured to generate image data of a plurality of areas in a field of view of the at least one imaging assembly, and to transmit the image data to a processor; 
   a display screen; and   a main control unit coupled to said control handle and comprising the processor;   wherein the display screen is configured to display the image data in a first portion of the display screen and display an endoscopic image map captured prior to generation of the image data in a second portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         25 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the insertion tube includes a plurality of markings, and the endoscope assembly further comprises:
 a detector configured to detect said plurality of markings during insertion of the insertion tube into a subject, and to transmit data representative of said plurality of markings to the processor.   
     
     
         26 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the main control unit is adapted to merge a plurality of image frames of the image data, based on the transmitted data representative of the plurality of markings, to generate three-dimensional image data of the areas viewed by the at least one imaging assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the detector is adapted to surround a portion of the length of the insertion tube and remain outside of the control handle. 
     
     
         28 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the detector is configured to detect rotation of the insertion tube about a central longitudinal axis of the insertion tube. 
     
     
         29 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the processor is adapted to use the data representative of the plurality of markings to calculate location information related to the location of the endoscope, wherein the image data includes a plurality of image frames, and wherein the processor is adapted to stamp each image frame with the location information. 
     
     
         30 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the image data includes a first image frame and a second image frame; wherein the processor is adapted to store a rotation angle associated with each of the first image frame and the second image frame; wherein the first image frame has a rotation angle different from the rotation angle of the second image frame; and wherein the processor is configured to align the first image frame and the second image frame to a common rotation angle. 
     
     
         31 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the processor is adapted to determine a speed at which the insertion tube is moving through a patient's body using the data representative of said plurality of markings; and
 wherein the display screen is configured to display the speed at which the insertion tube is moving through the patient's body in a third portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         32 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the control unit is adapted to generate a notification in the form of (i) a signal to a vibrator in the control handle, (ii) a signal to an audio speaker, or (iii) a signal to the display screen to visually present an icon, image, color, or other picture when the speed at which the insertion tube is moving through the patient's body exceeds a threshold speed value. 
     
     
         33 . An endoscope assembly comprising:
 an endoscope comprising:
 a control handle configured to control one or more functions of the endoscope; 
 an insertion tube having a length extending distally from said control handle and including a plurality of markings; and 
 at least one imaging assembly at a tip section of the insertion tube configured to generate image data of a plurality of areas in a field of view of the at least one imaging assembly, and to transmit the image data to a processor; 
   a display screen;   a detector configured to detect the plurality of markings during insertion of the insertion tube into a subject, and to transmit data representative of said plurality of markings to the processor; and   a main control unit coupled to said control handle and comprising the processor;   wherein the processor is adapted to determine a speed at which the insertion tube is moving through the subject using the data representative of the plurality of markings; and   wherein the display screen is configured to display the speed at which the insertion tube is moving through the subject in a portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         34 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the main control unit is adapted to merge the image data with the data representative of the plurality of markings to generate three-dimensional image data of the areas viewed by the at least one imaging assembly. 
     
     
         35 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the imaging assembly includes a plurality of imaging assemblies. 
     
     
         36 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the detector is adapted to surround a portion of the length of the insertion tube and remain outside of the control handle. 
     
     
         37 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the detector is configured to detect rotation of the insertion tube about a central longitudinal axis of the insertion tube. 
     
     
         38 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the processor is adapted to use the data representative of the plurality of markings to calculate location information related to the location of the endoscope. 
     
     
         39 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the image data includes a plurality of image frames, wherein the processor is adapted to map the plurality of image frames in a real time image map; and wherein the display screen is configured to display the real time image map in a first portion of the display screen and display an endoscopic image map captured prior to generation of the image data in a second portion of the display screen. 
     
     
         40 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the processor is adapted to merge a plurality of image frames of the image data, based on the transmitted data representative of the plurality of markings, to generate three-dimensional image data of the areas viewed by the imaging assembly. 
     
     
         41 . An endoscope assembly comprising:
 an endoscope comprising:
 a control handle configured to control one or more functions of the endoscope; 
 an insertion tube having a length extending distally from said control handle; and 
 at least one imaging assembly at a tip section of the insertion tube configured to generate image data of a plurality of areas in a field of view of the at least one imaging assembly, and to transmit the image data to a processor; 
   a display screen; and   a main control unit coupled to said control handle and comprising the processor;   wherein the display screen is configured to display an endoscopic image map captured prior to generation of the image data in synch with a current speed at which the insertion tube moves within a subject.   
     
     
         42 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the insertion tube includes a plurality of markings, and the endoscope assembly further comprises:
 a detector configured to detect said plurality of markings during insertion of the insertion tube into a subject, and to transmit data representative of said plurality of markings to the processor;   wherein the processor is adapted to determine the current speed using the data representative of said plurality of markings.   
     
     
         43 . The endoscope assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one imaging assembly includes a plurality of imaging assemblies.