Patent Application
20180228361
The present application generally relates to an arthroscopic system in which image is captured and transmitted from the lens to video display devices. More particularly, the present application relates to the arthroscopic system with the disposable arthroscope.
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat a wide range of joint problems such as meniscal tears, and cartilage injury, etc. Arthroscopy allows doctors to view the joint without making a large incision through the skin and other soft tissues.
A typical arthroscopic system includes a camera module. The camera module includes an image sensor, digital signal processor (DSP) and a transmitter. To display an image for doctors to operate surgery, the image sensor captures the light which is generated by a light source and reflected by the object, and converts it into digital raw data. The digital raw data is then converted into digital video data in RGB/YUV format by a digital signal processor in the camera module in serial digital interface (SDI) standard. The transmitter in the camera module then transmits the digital video data to a video captured device and then the video data is displayed on video display device for the doctor to operate surgery for patient.
Arthroscopic examination typically involves inserting an arthroscope into the patient's joint to be examined. Existing arthroscopes are typically reusable devices and must accordingly be sterilized before each use to eliminate the possibility of infecting the patient with contaminated devices. Nevertheless the possibility of infection remains if the arthroscope is not effectively or completely sterilized. Furthermore, the arthroscope may become septic in the time period between sterilization and use of the arthroscope.
Disposal of the arthroscope is an option to avoid such infection; however it significantly raises the cost on operating arthroscopy because the digital signal processor (DSP) in the camera module is costly. Thus, it is an object of the present application to provide an arthroscopic system with disposable arthroscope which is relatively cost-effective and decrease the risk of infection in arthroscopic surgery.
In one aspect, the present application relates to an arthroscopic system having
an arthroscope having a distal end and a proximal end, a light source attached to the distal end of the arthroscope for providing a light, a lens attached to the distal end of the arthroscope for gathering the light, an image sensor set up next to the lens for generating digital raw data from the light, a transmitter set up between the distal end and the proximal end for transmitting the digital raw data toward the proximal end, a processing system attached to the proximal end for capturing and converting the digital raw data into digital video data, and a video display device for displaying the digital video data.
In an embodiment, the processing system is a video capture and image processing system.
Preferably, the arthroscope is disposable.
In an embodiment, the arthroscope further comprises a cable.
Preferably, the transmitter is a Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes). In another embodiment, the transmitter is a low-voltage differential signaling device.
Preferably, the processing system converts digital raw data into digital video data in RGB/YUV format to be displayed by the video display device. In an embodiment the processing system has a digital signal processor. In another embodiment, the processing system has a computer with a central processing unit. In yet another embodiment, the processing system has a computer with a graphic card.
In another aspect, the present application provides a method for image transmitting in an arthroscopic system. The method includes a light generating step, where a light is generated by a light source; a light collecting step, wherein the light generated by the light source is collected by a lens; a converting step, wherein said light collected by said lens is converted into digital raw data by an image sensor; a transmitting step, wherein the digital raw data is transmitted from a distal end of an arthroscope to a proximal end of the arthroscope by at least a transmitter; a video capture and image processing step, wherein the digital raw data transmitted by said transmitter is captured and processed into digital video data; and a displaying step, wherein the digital video data is displayed by a video display device.
Preferably, the transmitter is a Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes). In another embodiment, the transmitter is a low-voltage differential signaling device.
Preferably, the method has a use step wherein the distal end of the arthroscope contacts with a patient.
Preferably, the method has a disposal step wherein said arthroscope comprising light source, lens, image sensor and transmitter is thrown away.
This application can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.
Referring initially to
The disadvantage of the system is that the light source 112 is large and bulky in order to generate high-intensity light for the system 1 and the arthroscope 11. Along with the costly camera module 114, the arthroscope 11 in the arthroscopic system 1 as shown in
Digital raw data generated by the image sensor 3141 is directly transmitted to the processing system 32PS which is attached to the proximal end of the arthroscope 31 via the transmitter 3143 and a cable 315.
In this embodiment as shown in
Referring back to
Referring to
