SELF-CLEANING RETROFIT KIT FOR A LAPAROSCOPE
TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure of the present patent application relates generally to laparoscopy, and particularly to a self-cleaning retrofit kit or lens cleaning system for cleaning a fiber optic lens of the laparoscope.
BACKGROUND ART
Laparoscopy is an operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions with the aid of a camera referred to as a "laparoscope". The laparoscope aids diagnosis or therapeutic interventions through the small incisions in the patient' s abdomen or pelvis. A typical laparoscope is a relatively long fiber optic cable system that allows viewing of the affected area through snaking the cable from a more distant, but more easily accessible, location.
The most commonly used type of laparoscope is the telescopic rod lens system, which is usually connected to a video camera. In such a system, a long rod or shaft carries the fiber optic cable, terminating in a fiber optic lens. Due to its use within the abdominal cavity, for example, the lens may become obstructed by blood, visceral fluids, or tissue covering or coming into contact with the lens, or the lens may become fogged, so that the lens typically requires frequent cleaning, thus not only limiting the laparoscope's period of use, but risking contamination and infection for the patient. When the lens requires cleaning, conventionally the laparoscope is removed from the patient' s abdomen and cleaned manually, increasing the length of the procedure and resulting in inefficient and expensive waste of valuable operating room equipment, space, and personnel time. Thus, a self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
DISCLOSURE The self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope provides a cleaning mechanism for a fiber optic lens of the laparoscope. A hollow cylindrical shaft, having opposed proximal and distal ends, is provided for mounting about the elongated rod of a conventional laparoscope. An axially extending irrigation channel and an axially extending suction channel are each mounted within the hollow cylindrical shaft. The axially extending suction channel is diametrically opposed with respect to the axially extending irrigation channel. An annular end piece is secured to the distal end of the hollow cylindrical shaft. The annular end piece has diametrically opposed irrigation and suction ports in respective fluid communication with the axially extending irrigation channel and the axially extending suction channel. The annular end piece is positioned adjacent the fiber optic lens of the laparoscope.
An irrigation valve and a suction valve are each mounted to the proximal end of the hollow cylindrical shaft and are in respective fluid communication with the axially extending irrigation channel and the axially extending suction channel. The irrigation valve is adapted for connection to an external supply of a cleaning fluid for controlling delivery of the cleaning fluid through the axially extending irrigation channel and the irrigation port, such that the cleaning fluid passes over and cleans the fiber optic lens. The suction valve is adapted for connection to an external source of suction, such as a vacuum pump or the like, for controlling suction to remove contaminating fluids and debris entrained in the cleaning fluid through the suction port and the axially extending suction channel.
A set of user controls may be provided, for example, a switch for actuation of an automatic control for delivery and removal of the cleaning fluid F, a button for manual control over the delivery and removal of the cleaning fluid F, a joystick-type controller for allowing the user to control movement of a pointer or cursor that is superimposed on the video image being produced by the laparoscope, or the like. Further it should be understood that rather than being provided as a retrofit kit, the laparoscope with the lens cleaning system described above may be manufactured and provided to the end user as a single or integral OEM unit.
These and other features of the present disclosure will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partially exploded environmental perspective view of a self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope.
Fig. 2 is a partial environmental side view in section of the distal end of the self- cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a housing with operator controls mounted to a proximal end of the self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope. Fig. 5 is an environmental perspective view of the distal end of the self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope.
Fig. 6 is a section view taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 4.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRING OUT THE INVENTION
The self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope 10 provides a cleaning mechanism for a fiber optic lens 42 of a laparoscope L. As best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, a hollow cylindrical shaft 12 having opposed proximal and distal ends 14, 16, respectively, is provided for mounting about the elongated rod 40 of a conventional laparoscope L. It should be understood that the conventional laparoscope L is shown in Fig. 1 for exemplary purposes only, and that the hollow cylindrical shaft 12 may be provided in a variety of differing lengths and diameters for mounting on a variety of different conventional laparoscopes. An axially extending irrigation channel 18 and an axially extending suction channel 20 are each mounted or defined within the hollow cylindrical shaft 12. The axially extending suction channel 20 is diametrically opposed with respect to the axially extending irrigation channel 18.
As best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, an annular end piece 22 is secured to the distal end 16 of the hollow cylindrical shaft 12. The annular end piece 22 has diametrically opposed irrigation and suction ports 24, 26, respectively, in respective fluid communication with the axially extending irrigation channel 18 and the axially extending suction channel 20. Fig. 4 shows the hollow cylindrical shaft 12 fully mounted on the elongated rod 40 of laparoscope L. In this fully mounted position, the annular end piece 22 is positioned adjacent the fiber optic lens 42 of laparoscope L.
As shown in Fig. 1, an irrigation valve 32 and a suction valve 34 are each mounted to the proximal end 14 of the hollow cylindrical shaft 12 and are in respective fluid communication, through respective conduits 33, 35, with the axially extending irrigation channel 18 and the axially extending suction channel 20. As shown, the irrigation and suction valves 32, 34, respectively, are preferably received within a housing 30, which is mounted on the proximal end 14 of the hollow cylindrical shaft 12. Preferably, irrigation and suction connectors 52, 54, respectively, are mounted to the housing 30. The irrigation and suction connectors 52, 54 are respectively in fluid communication with the irrigation and suction valves 32, 34. The irrigation connector 52 is adapted for releasable connection to an external supply of the cleaning fluid F, and the suction connector 54 is adapted for releasable connection to an external source of suction, such as a vacuum pump or the like. It should be understood that the conventional hose connectors 52, 54 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are shown for exemplary purposes only. Additionally, housing 30 may be provided with an additional heating chamber, through which cleaning fluid F will flow. It should be understood that any suitable type of heater or heating mechanism may be used to selectively heat cleaning fluid F to a desired temperature.
The irrigation valve 32 selectively controls delivery of the cleaning fluid F through the axially extending irrigation channel 18 and the irrigation port 24, such that the cleaning fluid F passes across and cleans the fiber optic lens 42, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The suction valve 34 selectively controls suction generated by the external source of suction, such as a vacuum pump or the like, for removal of the cleaning fluid F through the suction port 26 and the axially extending suction channel 20.
As best shown in Fig. 3, a set of operator controls may be provided on the cover 36 of the housing 30. For example, a switch 50 may be provided for actuation of an automatic control for delivery and removal of cleaning fluid F, and a button 56 may be provided for manual control over the delivery and removal of cleaning fluid F. In a further example, a joystick-type controller 58 may be provided for allowing the user to control movement of a pointer or cursor that is superimposed on the video image being produced by the laparoscope L. An additional control button 60 may be used to show or hide the pointer or cursor and/or provide other video-related control.
With regard to the ability to control movement of a pointer or cursor that is superimposed on the video image being produced by the laparoscope L, it should be understood that such a pointer may be controlled in any suitable manner and is not limited to control through the joystick-type controller 58. For example, the pointer or cursor may be controlled wirelessly from the touchscreen of a mobile phone or other device. Preferably, a versatile software suite is provided, allowing not only control interface options as described above, but further customization, such as, for example, the ability to show more than one pointer at a time. As an example, the present system may be used in an educational setting, with a surgeon operating the laparoscope L. A medical student could, for example, log into the system via a mobile phone or other portable device, add a pointer and ask the surgeon a specific question using this added visual aid. Further, it should be understood that video captured from the camera of laparoscope L is preferably wirelessly streamed to all such connected mobile devices. As a further alternative, audio picked up from a microphone built into the handle of laparoscope L can accompany the streaming video images. This feature will allow a surgical operation to be streamed with both audio and video, over the internet, to medical schools, conferences or anyone who has access to the system, thus enhancing the educational capabilities of the present invention. Additionally, in conjunction with movement of the pointer, users may have drawing or sketching capabilities, allowing the user to draw simple drawings, sketches, words and the like, which will be shown on the connected mobile devices. As a further alternative, the video may be projected or mirrored on a main screen or the like, allowing the surgeon to view the video image in the operating theater. In order to provide the surgeon with a clear image, the surgeon preferably has the option to hide any additional pointers and/or sketches from the image.
As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the housing 30 may be supported by a mount 28, allowing the housing 30 to be spaced apart from the proximal end 14 of the hollow cylindrical shaft 12. This provides the user with space to both manipulate the laparoscope L, as well as to actuate the controls described above provided on the cover 36. Further, it should be understood that rather than being provided as a retrofit kit, the laparoscope with the cleaning mechanism described above may be manufactured and provided to the end user as a single unit.
It is to be understood that the self-cleaning retrofit kit for a laparoscope is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.