WO2025222051A1 - Laparoscopic camera assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A laparoscopic camera assembly has a housing detachably mounted on a distal end of a surgical tool shaft having an image input connector. The housing, typically a rigid cylindrical shell, includes a distal viewing end and a proximal shaft attachment end, and a lens and light source assembly is attached to the forward viewing end of the elongate housing. A camera sensor is placed behind the lens and receives an optical image from the lens. A flexible circuit connects the lens and light source assembly to image processing circuitry, and an image output connector mates with the image input connector on the surgical tool shaft when the laparoscopic camera assembly is mounted on the distal end of the surgical tool shaft.

Description

LAPAROSCOPIC CAMERA ASSEMBLY

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/635,452, titled “LAPAROSCOPIC CAMERA ASSEMBLY,” filed April 17, 2024, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0002] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

FIELD

[0003] The disclosed technology relates generally to medical devices and methods. More particularly, the disclosed technology relates to miniature camera assemblies which detachably connect to laparoscopic and other tool shafts.

BACKGROUND

[0004] Laparoscope, endoscopic and other minimally invasive surgical procedures have been widely adopted and have replaced many open surgical procedures. Laparoscopic procedures are performed within body cavities, such as the abdomen or thorax, and rely on introducing a shaft of a surgical tool through tissue via a small incision or other percutaneous entry site which provide access into the cavity. In laparoscopic procedures, the shaft manipulates a tool or end effector to perform a surgical protocol while viewing the surgical field within the cavity using a laparoscopic camera carried by another percutaneously introduced shaft. Heretofore, laparoscopic cameras have usually been mounted on dedicated laparoscopic shafts which prevents interchanging a camera for another camera or surgical tool tip.

[0005] One drawback in performing laparoscopic and other minimally invasive procedures is the need to frequently exchange and reposition tools, including cameras, through a limited number of access points. To address that problem, the use of tool “cassettes” which carry a number of interchangeable tool tips, including cameras, has been proposed. See, for example, commonly owned U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2013/0150871 and 2015/0216515 and PCT Publication WO/2023/133519, which describe tool cassettes configured to hold a number of tool tips that can be introduced through a single, large incision, typically through the patient’s umbilicus. Once the cassette has been introduced into the patient’s insufflated abdomen, the tools and cameras can be picked up and manipulated using handles have narrow shafts that can be percutaneously introduced through small incisions or ports in the patient’s abdominal wall, often being self-introduced using retractable trocar tips incorporated into the shafts. Exchanging tools on a single or limited number of tool shafts avoids the need to remove and exchange complete tools through the access points.

[0006] While these tool cassette systems are functional and of significant benefit in performing laparoscopic and other minimally invasive procedures, present laparoscopic cameras are not optimally designed to be stowed in a cassette and retrieved by a separately introduced surgical tool shaft. Even dedicated camera shafts are often large, require a large port to gain access, and are not suitable for self-penetration. Moreover, the need to provide a robust electrical connection to carry the video signal presents further design challenges. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide laparoscopic cameras that can be used with surgical tool shafts that are compatible with other tool tips and not limited to other cameras. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide additional and alternative laparoscopic camera designs having improved system compatibility as well as enhanced ease-of use, design simplicity, reliability, and compactness. At least some of these objectives will be met by the technologies described and claimed hereinafter.

[0007] Commonly owned PCT Publication WO/2023/133519 and U.S. Patent Publications 2013/0150871 and 2015/0216515, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, have been described above. See also U.S. Patent Nos. 5,925,002;

6,309,397; 8,747,394; 8,858,538; 7,492,116; as well as U.S. Publication Nos. 2003/0114731; 2005/0043718; U.S. 2005/0165449; U.S. 2005/0209607; U.S. 2006/0020287; U.S. 2006/0041273; U.S. 2007/0198000; U.S. 2008/0021274; U.S. 2008/0108871; U.S.

2008/0147096; US. 2008/0167672; U.S. 2008/0275480; U.S 2009/0005638; U.S 2009/0005635; U.S. 2009/0182193; U.S. 2010/0016855; U.S. 2010/0057078; U.S. 2010/ 0188493; U.S. 2011/0087267; U.S. 2012/0083826; U.S. 2012/01322450; U.S. 2013/0066304; and U.S. 2013/0211196.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0008] In a first aspect, the disclosed technology provides a laparoscopic camera assembly configured to detachably mount on a distal end of a surgical tool shaft having an image input connector. The camera assembly comprises an elongate housing, typically a rigid cylindrical shell, having a distal viewing end and a proximal shaft attachment end. A lens and light source assembly is attached to the forward viewing end of the elongate housing, and a camera sensor is disposed proximally of the lens and light source assembly and configured to receive an optical image from the lens. A flexible circuit connects the lens and light source assembly to image processing circuitry, and an image output connector is configured to mate with the image input connector on the surgical tool shaft when the laparoscopic camera assembly is mounted on the distal end of the surgical tool shaft.

[0009] In some instances, the laparoscopic camera assembly further comprises a circuit board extending longitudinally within an interior of the elongate housing, wherein the image processing circuitry is disposed on the circuit board. Conveniently, but not necessarily, the image processing circuitry on the circuit board may comprise a Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL) or other digital serial communication protocol.

[0010] In other instances, the image processing circuitry on the circuit board may comprise an analog serial communication circuits.

[0011] In other instances, the image processing circuitry an image sensor may comprise in whole or in part a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI), a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) protocol, Display port, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), SDI (Serial Digital Interface), HD-SDI (High- Definition Serial Digital Interface), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), FPD-Link, or GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link) protocol. A serializer module may convert the signal (e.g., 16 signals) into one bidirectional serial line. [0012] In some instances, the laparoscopic camera assembly further comprises a coaxial cable connecting the image processing circuitry with the image output connector. For example, the image output connector may comprise a first ring connected to a core of the coaxial cable and a second ring connected to a shield of the coaxial cable, where the first and second rings are configured to mate with spring-loaded electrical contacts which comprise the image input connector on the shaft.

[0013] In a second aspect, the disclosed technology provides a laparoscopic camera system comprises a laparoscopic camera assembly as described above in combination with a laparoscopic tool comprising a surgical tool shaft having an image input connector.

[0014] In some instances, the surgical tool may further comprise a coaxial cable extending from the image input connector through the shaft and the handle and having an external end disposed externally to the handle. [0015] In some instances, the coaxial cable may comprise an end-to-end connector disposed within the handle which is configured to mate and detach as the distal and proximal portions of the handle are joined and taken apart.

[0016] In some instances, the handle may comprise a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft and the proximal portion is detachably attached to a proximal end of the distal portion. For example, the distal portion of the handle may comprise mechanical interface elements configured to operate attachment and/or penetration elements on the distal end of the shaft. For example, the distal portion of the shaft comprises an electronic interface.

[0017] In a third aspect, the disclosed technology provides a surgical tool configured to detachably connect to a laparoscopic camera assembly. The tool comprises a surgical tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the distal end of the shaft is configured to detachably attach to a proximal end of the laparoscopic camera assembly. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the surgical tool shaft, and an image input connector is disposed on the distal end of the shaft. The image input connector is configured to mate with an image output connector on the laparoscopic camera assembly when the laparoscopic camera assembly is mounted on the distal end of the surgical tool shaft. A coaxial cable extends from the image input connector through the shaft and the handle and has an external end. An external connector is configured to connect the external end of the coaxial cable to a display unit.

[0018] In some instances, the coaxial cable comprises an end-to-end connector disposed within the handle which is configured to mate and detach as the distal and proximal portions of the handle are joined and taken apart.

[0019] In some instances, the handle comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, where the distal portion is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft and the proximal portion is detachably attached to a proximal end of the distal potion. For example, the distal portion of the handle may comprise mechanical interface elements configured to operate attachment and/or penetration elements on the distal end of the shaft, and the distal portion of the shaft may comprise an electronic interface.

[0020] In a fourth aspect, the disclosed technology provides a method for imaging a laparoscopic procedure in a patient’s body cavity. The method comprises providing a surgical tool having a handle and a shaft. A distal end of the shaft is percutaneously advanced into the patient’s body cavity, and a distal tip of the shaft is connected to an attachment end of a laparoscopic camera assembly which has been previously placed in the patient’s body cavity. Such attachment electrically and mechanically couples first and second spring-loaded contacts on the shaft with a pair of axially spaced-apart ring contacts within the laparoscopic camera assembly.

[0021] In some instances, percutaneously advancing the distal end of the shaft into the patient’s body cavity comprises extending a trocar tip from the distal end of the shaft and percutaneously penetrating the trocar tip into the body cavity and retracting the trocar tip after the distal end of the shaft has entered the patient’s body cavity.

[0022] In some instances, connecting the distal tip of the shaft to the attachment end of the laparoscopic camera assembly comprises advancing the distal tip of the shaft into a receptacle on the proximal end of the laparoscopic camera assembly and actuating an interlock mechanism to secure mechanical and electrical attachment.

[0023] Camera sensors used in the systems described above may employ any one of a variety of known technologies, including charge-coupled device (CCD) type sensors, CMOS active-pixel image sensors (CMOS sensors) which have reduced power consumption, CMOS back-illuminated sensors, which have even lower power consumption. While the camera sensors will usually be disposed in the detachable laparoscopic camera assembly itself, in some cases, the camera sensor and associated circuitry may be positioned externally of the laparoscopic camera assembly with the lens coupled to the camera sensor by an optical fiber or waveguide carrying the light image to the camera sensor. The camera sensor and/or associated circuitry could, for example, be wholly or partially located in a handle of the shaft and/or in an external controller.

[0024] The lens of the camera assembly, which focuses the light image in the camara’s field of view onto the camara sensor or optical waveguide or fiber, can comprise any one of many known technologies including wide-angle, telephoto, ultra-wide, and macro lenses. In particular instances, the lenses may comprise piezo-focused or other “zoom” technologies, for example with light focused to center.

[0025] The light sources will typically comprise light-emitting diode (LED) technologies, including RGB LED assemblies (with recombined red, green, and blue LED’s), infra-red (IR) LED’s, and the like. While the LED’s or other light sources will typically be located adjacent to the camara lens, in other cases the LED or other light source could be external to the laparoscopic camera assembly and be coupled to a lens or other emitter in the assembly by an optical fiber or waveguide carrying the light to the emitter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] A better understanding of the features and advantages of the methods and apparatuses described herein will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, and the accompanying drawings of which:

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a surgical tool having a shaft and a handle coupled to a laparoscopic camera assembly incorporating the disclosed technology.

[0028] FIG.1A is an alternative view of the laparoscopic camera assembly of FIG. 1. [0029] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, partially cross-sectional view of the shaft and laparoscopic camera assembly of FIG. 1 with portions broken away.

[0030] FIGS. 3A and 3B are alternative views of the internal components of the laparoscopic camera assembly of FIG. 1.

[0031] FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate introduction of the shaft of the surgical tool of FIG. 1 into the laparoscopic camera assembly of FIG. 1 prior to removal of the laparoscopic camera assembly from a tool carrier.

[0032] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the shaft of the surgical tool after attachment to the laparoscopic camera assembly and removal of the laparoscopic camera assembly from a tool carrier.

[0033] FIGS. 6 A to 6C illustrate mechanical and electronic portions of the surgical tool handle of FIG. 1 separately (FIGS. 6 A and 6B) and joined (FIG. 6C) showing an internal cable connector.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative laparoscopic camera assembly in accordance with the disclosed technologies.

[0035] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates a laparoscopic camera assembly having a distal seal in accordance with the disclosed technologies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, a laparoscopic camera system 100 constructed in accordance with the disclosed technology comprises a surgical tool carrier 102 and a laparoscopic camera assembly 120. The surgical tool carrier 102 comprises a shaft 106 having a distal end 108 and a proximal end 110. A handle 104 is fixedly attached to the proximal end 110 of the shaft 106, and the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is detachably attached to the distal end 108 of the shaft. [0037] As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 1 A, the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 has a distal viewing end 122 and a proximal shaft-attachment end 124. An end cap 126 is attached to the distal viewing end 122 of the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 and includes a lens 134 and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) distributed about a forward-facing rim thereof. The laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is divided into a distal housing segment 128 and a proximal housing segment 130. Both segments are typically formed from a cylindrical, generally rigid shell which houses interior components as will be described in more detail hereinbelow. A shaft interlock 140 and a tool holder interlock 142, typically formed as cam elements, protrude from an outer surface of the proximal housing 130 and have a purpose that will be described hereinbelow.

[0038] The lens 134 will often be coated or treated to improve performance. For example, the lens may have a hydrophobic or lubricous coating to inhibit smudging; the lens may have an anti -reflective coating to reduce reflective interference; and the lens may be “nano textured” to reduce moisture condensation. These treatments may be used individually or in combination.

[0039] In addition to the lens treatments described above, it will sometimes be useful to provide a cleaning element, such as a bristle arrangement, a wiper blade, a cleaning pad, or the like, for removing contamination from an outer surface of the lens and well as the LED’s or other light sources. The cleaning element can be mounted on or otherwise carried by an exterior region of the tool cassette, a tool shaft, and/or a tool tip. A user can then manipulate the camera handle to engage the cleaning element to remove blood, tissue, and other contaminants that might otherwise interview with viewing or illumination.

[0040] In addition to LED’s, suitable light sources include optical fibers and waveguides having a laser or other light source external to the laparoscopic cameral and transmitting externally generated light to the laparoscopic camara assembly. Typically, an optical fiber of waveguide will travel axially through the shaft and an optical coupler will be provided to transmit light from the fiber or waveguide to an optical network in the laparoscopic camera assembly which will transmit the light to the target area.

[0041] In still other embodiments, the light source may comprise excitable phosphorus, typically excited by a laser.

[0042] The handle 104 of the laparoscopic camera system 100 comprises a distal portion 150 and a proximal portion 152. A hub 154 at the distal end of the handle 104 is fixed attached to the proximal end 110 of the shaft 106. The distal portion 150 comprises a number of mechanical features that are used for attaching and detaching the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 from the distal end 108 of the shaft 106. For example, the distal portion 150 of the handle 102 may include a mode selector 160 and a trocar flag 162. The functions of these mechanical components are described in more detail in commonly owned PCT publication WO/2023/133519, the full disclosure which has previously been incorporated herein by reference. As further described with reference to FGS. 6 A to 6C below, the proximal portion 152 of the handle 104 has a distal end which is configured to be detachably removed to a proximal end of the distal portion 150 of the handle.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 2, the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is shown with the outer shell all the proximal housing 130 removed, better illustrating the shaft interlock 140 and the tool holder interlock 142. The end cap 126 is shown in isolation with a portion removed to better show a first ring electrode 116 and a second ring electrode 118. The ring electrodes 116 and 118 are positioned so that they will make electrical contact with a first electrode pair 112 and a second electrode pair 114, respectively, when the distal end 108 of shaft 106 is attached to the laparoscopic camera assembly 120, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

[0044] The internal components of the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 are best seen in FIGS. 3 A and 3B. A camera sensor 180 is secured at its forward face to a rear surface of the end cap 126. The camera sensor 180 receives an optical image through the lens which is typically illuminated by the multiple LEDs. A rear surface of the camera sensor 180 is attached to an extension 186 of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) 184 which is attached to a main printed circuit board 182 by a FPC connector 188. The Main printed circuit board also carries camera circuitry 190 for conditioning the image signal for transmission to external display and/or analysis capabilities, such as an external display screen (not shown). Output of the camera circuitry 190 is carried by a coaxial cable 192 which will be configured to deliver a signal from the camera circuitry to a receiving cable that runs through the shaft 106 and ultimately to the external cable connector 170. A core 196 of the coaxial cable 192 is attached to the second ring 118, and a shield 194 of the coaxial cable is attached to the first ring 116 to deliver an image signal to the electrode pairs 112 and 114 so that the signal can be delivered to the handle 104 by a cable (not shown) running through the shaft to the handle.

[0045] The laparoscopic camera assembly 120 will typically be delivered to the patient while detached from the surgical carrier tool 102. For example, the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 may be delivered to a patient’s insufflated abdomen on a tool cassette together with a number of other surgical tool tips. Exemplary surgical tool tips and carrier cassettes are described in more detail in each of commonly owned WO/2023/133519 and 2015/0216515, the full disclosures of which have previously been incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 4 A, a single laparoscopic camera assembly 120 will typically be present in a tool holder 200 which will be joined to several other tool holders in a tool holder cassette. For simplicity of description, only a single tool holder 200 will be shown in FIGS. 4 A to 4D.

[0046] When introduced to the patient, for example on a tool holder cassette through the patient’s umbilicus, the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 will be locked within the individual tool holder 200 by a pair of tool holder interlocks 142, typically in the form of pivoted cam elements as shown. Each of the tool holder interlocks 142 projects outwardly into a receptacle 143 formed in a wall of the proximal housing 130. In this way, the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 cannot be accidentally lost or dropped from the tool holder 200 and will remain in place until properly engaged by the distal end 108 of the shaft 106, as shown in FIG. 4B.

[0047] Referring now to FIG.4B, the distal end 108 of shaft 106 is introduced into surgical region where distal end will engage and remove the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 from the tool holder 200. The surgery will typically be laparoscopic, the distal end 108 of shaft 106 may be introduced to the patient’s insufflated abdomen by any conventional means, typically by advancing a trocar tip 144 (FIG. 4D) and piercing the abdominal wall without placing a separate port, as described in commonly owned PCT Publication WO/2023/133519, the full disclosure of which has previously been incorporated herein by reference. Once in the abdominal cavity, the trocar tip 144 can be retracted and the distal end 108 of the shaft 106 introduced through the proximal attachment end 124. As the distal end 108 is advanced distally, the end engages and pivots the interlocks 142 so that they disengage their respective receptacles and the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is freed to be removed by the shaft 106.

[0048] FIG. 4C shows the distal end 108 of shaft 106 fully advanced into the laparoscopic camera assembly 120, as shown in FIG. 4B, with the cross-section rotated to show the shaft interlock 140. With the distal end 108 of shaft 106 fully advanced, the shaft will not be locked into the laparoscopic camera assembly 120. As the shaft 106 is retracted to withdraw the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 from the tool holder 200, however, a tip of the shaft interlock 140 will fall into a detent groove 109, as best seen in FIG. 5B, locking the laparoscopic camera assembly onto the shaft and preventing accidental loss.

[0049] When the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is locked to shaft 106, the first and second electrode pairs 112 and 114 will protrude radially outwardly from the shaft so they engage the first and second electrode rings 116 and 118, respectively, as best seen in FIG.

5 A.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4D, during undocking, the electrode pairs 112 and 114 are retracted, and the trocar tip 144 is briefly exposed in order to push the distal end 108 of the shaft 106 out of the laparoscopic camera assembly 120. This will allow the tool holder interlocks 142 to extend and lock the laparoscopic camera assembly into the tool holder 200. [0051] FIGS. 5 A and 5B are alternative views of the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 attached to the distal end 108 of the shaft 106 after removal from the tool holder 200. FIG.

5 A shows the first electrode pair 112 engaged with the first ring electrode 116 to provide an electrically conductive signal path for the cable shield 194 of cable 192 in the laparoscopic camera assembly (as seen in FIG. 2) to a shield 194 of coaxial cable 119 which extends through shaft 106 to the handle 104 of the surgical carrier tool 102. Similarly, although not visible in FIG. 5 A, the second electrode pair 114 engages the second ring electrode 118 to provide an electrically conductive signal path for cable core 196 in the laparoscopic camera assembly (seen in FIG. 2) to a sheath of the coaxial cable 119. In this way, all data from the camera sensor 180 can be transmitted to the handle 102 for processing and external transmission.

[0052] The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5B is slightly rotated about a longitudinal axis relative to FIG. 5A and shows how the cam-like shaft interlock 140 is freed to engage the detent groove 109 on the distal end 108 of the shaft 106 to lock the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 onto the shaft after the assembly is removed from the tool carrier 120. The shaft interlock 140 will usually be spring-loaded to self-open when removed from constraint of the tool carrier 120. Spring-loading also allows the shaft interlock 140 to close when the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 is reinserted into the tool carrier 120, allowing the shaft 106 to be disengaged and withdrawn.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the handle 104 comprises a distal portion 150 detachably joined to a proximal portion 152. Conveniently, bayonet receptors 156A and 156b allow the distal and proximal housings to be joined by simply twisting them together in a conventional manner. Once joined, a spring-loaded locking pin 158b falls into a slot 158c which prevents accidental detachment of the two housing portions. The locking pin 158b can be removed from the slot 158c by release tab 158a on the bottom of the housing 104 when it is desired to separate the two handle portions. Separability allows the mechanical distal portion 150 of the handle 104 to be disposable while permitting reuse the more costly electronic proximal portion 152. [0054] As best seen in FIG. 6A, internal cable connectors 164a and 164b are physically joined when the distal and proximal handle portions 150 and 152 are brought together. The second internal cable connector 164b is joined to a proximal end of the coaxial cable 119 which extends through the shaft 106 of the surgical tool carrier 102. In this way, signal from the camera sensor 180 is brought from the laparoscopic camera assembly 120 through the distal portion 150 of the handle 104 and then to the proximal portion 152 of the handle. A distal end of the coaxial cable 170 is attached to the first internal cable connector 164a in order to deliver signal from the camera sensor 180 to a display or other external device.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative laparoscopic camera assembly 700 has a distal viewing end 702 and a proximal shaft-attachment end 704 configured to be removably attached to a shaft 706, as generally described above with reference to laparoscopic camera assembly 120. In contrast to laparoscopic camera assembly 120, laparoscopic camera assembly 700 includes a pair of window lenses 710 or other sensors to allow three- dimensional (stereographic) imaging. The two sensors can be integrated into one head, as shown, or could be stitched together in software.

[0056] Additionally, laparoscopic camera assembly 700 includes a pair or high-power LED’s 712, each mounted on a laterally deployable support. 714 The supports 714 are shown in their deployed configurations in FIG. 7 and may be radially collapsed, for example by proximally retracting a proximal support extension 716 (not shown).

[0057] The high-power LED’s 710 will generate more concentrated heat than LED’s 136 arranged in circular arrays as shown in the previous embodiment. To remove and dissipate such heat, the deploy able support 714 and support extension 716 can be formed from a heat conductive material, such as a thick, heat-conductive metal, that connects to a heat dissipating surface 720. In a preferred instance, the heat dissipating surface comprises a wicking material that receives a saline drip from a lumen in the shaft 706 (not shown). One or a combination of constant feed, overflow drip and evaporation of the saline helps remove the generated heat generated by the LED’s 710 and reduce the operating temperature. While the illustrated cooling apparatus is “open loop,” the saline is delivered but not returned, “closed loop” systems could also find use where a cooling media is circuited and externally cooled by an appropriate heat exchanger.

[0058] Referring now to FIGS 8 A and 8B, a proximal shaft-attachment portion of a laparoscopic camera assembly 800 is shown in section. The assembly 800 is similar to the previous embodiment and includes a shaft interlock 802, a tool holder interlock, and electrodes. Unlike the previous embodiment, the laparoscopic camera assembly 800 includes a silicone gasket 808 that creates a seal around the distal end 810 of the shaft 812 to prevent moisture from interfering with the electrical connections and circuitry 814. FIG. 8A shows the gasket 808 in the absence of the shaft 812, and FIG. 8B shows how the gasket deforms to conform to the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft as the shaft passes through the gasket, creating the seal.

[0059] Reference numbers used herein are in TABLE 1 below.

TABLE 1 [0060] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A laparoscopic camera system configured to detachably mount on a distal end of a surgical tool shaft having an image input connector, said laparoscopic camera system comprising: an elongate housing having a distal viewing end and a proximal shaft attachment end; a lens and light source assembly disposed on the forward viewing end of the elongate housing; a camera sensor configured to receive an optical image from the lens; image processing circuitry; a flexible circuit connecting the lens and light source assembly to the image processing circuitry; and an image output connector configured to mate with the image input connector on the surgical tool shaft when the laparoscopic camera system is mounted on the distal end of the surgical tool shaft.

2. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1, wherein the camara sensor is disposed in the forward viewing end of the elongate housing proximally of the lens and light source assembly.

3. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1 or 2 wherein flexible circuit and image processing circuitry is disposed in the housing.

4. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1 to 3, wherein elongate shell comprises a rigid cylindrical shell.

5. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1 to 4, further comprising a circuit board extending longitudinally within an interior of the elongate housing, wherein the image processing circuitry is disposed on the circuit board.

6. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 5, wherein the image processing circuitry on the circuit board comprises a Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL).

7. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 5, wherein the image processing circuitry on the circuit board comprises analog serial communication circuits.

8. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1 to 7, wherein the image output connector comprises a first ring connected to a core of the coaxial cable and a second ring connected to a shield of the coaxial cable, wherein said first and second rings are configured to mate with spring-loaded electrical contacts which comprise the image input connector on the shaft.

9. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 1 to 8, wherein the lens is treated to reduce reflective interference, reduce smudging, and/or reduce moisture condensation.

10. A laparoscopic camera system comprising: the laparoscopic camera assembly of claim 1 to 9, and a surgical tool comprising a surgical tool shaft having a distal end which carries the image input connector.

11. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 10, wherein the surgical tool further comprises a coaxial cable extending from the image input connector through the shaft and the handle and having an external end disposed externally to the handle.

12. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 10 or 11, wherein the coaxial cable comprises an end-to-end connector disposed within the handle which is configured to mate and detach as the distal and proximal portions of the handle are joined and taken apart.

13. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 10 to 12, wherein the handle comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft and the proximal portion is detachably attached to a proximal end of the distal potion.

14. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 13, wherein, the distal portion of the handle comprises mechanical interface elements configured to operate attachment and/or penetration elements on the distal end of the shaft.

15. The laparoscopic camera system of claim 13 or 14, wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises an electronic interface.

16. A surgical tool configured to detachably connect to a laparoscopic camera assembly, said surgical tool comprising: a surgical tool shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the shaft is configured to detachably attach to a proximal end of the laparoscopic camera assembly; a handle attached to the proximal end of the surgical tool shaft; an image input connector on the distal end of the shaft, said image input connector configured to mate with an image output connector on the laparoscopic camera assembly when the laparoscopic camera assembly is mounted on the distal end of the surgical tool shaft; a coaxial cable extending from the image input connector through the shaft and the handle and having an external end; and an external connector configured to connect the external end of the coaxial cable to a display unit.

17. The surgical tool of claim 16, wherein the coaxial cable comprises an end-to-end connector disposed within the handle which is configured to mate and detach as the distal and proximal portions of the handle are joined and taken apart.

18. The surgical tool of claim 16 or 17, wherein the handle comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the distal portion is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the shaft and the proximal portion is detachably attached to a proximal end of the distal potion.

19. The surgical tool of claim 18, wherein the distal portion of the handle comprises mechanical interface elements configured to operate attachment and/or penetration elements on the distal end of the shaft.

20. The surgical tool of claim 18 or 19, wherein the distal portion of the shaft comprises an elOctronic interface.

21. A method for imaging a laparoscopic procedure in a patient’s body cavity, said method comprising: providing a surgical tool comprising a handle and a shaft; percutaneously advancing a distal end of the shaft into the patient’s body cavity; connecting a distal tip of the shaft to an attachment end of a laparoscopic camera assembly which has been previously placed in the patient’s body cavity; wherein such attachment electrically and mechanically couples first and second spring-loaded contacts on the shaft with a pair of axially spaced-apart ring contacts within the laparoscopic camera assembly.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein the contacts comprise ring contacts.

23. The method as in claim 21 or 22, wherein percutaneously advancing the distal end of the shaft into the patient’s body cavity comprises extending a trocar tip from the distal end of the shaft and percutaneously penetrating the trocar tip into the body cavity and retracting the trocar tip after the distal end of the shaft has entered the patient’s body cavity.

24. The method as in claim 23, wherein connecting the distal tip of the shaft to the attachment end of the laparoscopic camera assembly comprises advancing the distal tip of the shaft into a receptacle on the proximal end of the laparoscopic camera assembly and actuating an interlock mechanism to secure mechanical and electrical attachment.