Digital imaging solutions developer OmniVision Technologies has partnered with Myriad Fiber to create a commercial prototype for a new endoscopic surgery tool featuring a built-in camera.
The design uses OmniVision’s ultra-compact OVM6948 CameraCubeChip camera module that is integrated with wafer-level optics.
This new prototype is expected to address challenges with endoscopic procedures, including surgeries for ear-nose-throat, urology and women’s health.
Existing traditional endoscopes possess camera at the distal tip, which is said to be spatially offset and present behind the working channel, thereby blocking surgeon’s view of the target region.
Furthermore, this setting prolongs surgery time, leads to more patient discomfort and complications and risk of an incomplete procedure.
To avoid these imaging issues, OmniVision directly integrated its camera into the tool. It is expected that the approach can also be implemented for multiple other surgical tools such as scissors, suction devices, pliers and clippers.
OmniVision principal marketing and business development manager Tehzeeb Gunja said: “If surgeons could see exactly what the endoscopic tool is doing, they could perform delicate operations faster and more safely.
“We are opening up a completely new paradigm by integrating the camera as part of the surgical tool itself.”
The company has also collaborated with BioVision Technologies to introduce a standalone medical CMOS camera platform MicroCam Touch intended for disposable, in-office endoscopy.
This lightweight endoscopic tool incorporates OmniVision’s OVM6946 and OVM6948 CameraCubeChip medical image sensor camera modules.
It is primarily meant for in-office medical procedures involving disposable endoscopes and catheters such as OBGYN, ear-nose-throat (ENT), arthroscopy and urology.
