Claims:
WE CLAIM:

1. A ureteroscope for dusting stones in a body cavity, the ureteroscope comprising:
a flexible probe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the flexible probe comprising:
a working channel configured to accommodate a laser fiber in the distal end of the flexible probe at a working position, the laser fiber to be deflected against a target stone for dusting; and
a deflecting tip at the distal end of the flexible probe and configured to be deflected and in turn deflect the laser fiber, the deflecting tip being positioned at a minimum distance from the target stone; and
a handle extending proximally from the flexible probe, the handle comprising:
a plurality of selection switches configured to provide digital dusting signals, the digital dusting signals corresponding to selection of a dusting amplitude and a dusting frequency of the deflecting tip by a user; and
a deflection control module configured to control a motor assisted movement of the deflecting tip for the dusting in response to the digital dusting signals, the motor assisted movement associated with a deflection direction and a deflection magnitude of the deflecting tip.

2. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible probe further comprises:
an image viewing system configured to view the laser fiber extending from the deflecting tip and the target stone; and
a light source configured to provide light to assist viewing the laser fiber and the target stone through the image viewing system.

3. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deflection control module comprises:
a deflection lever configured to be deflected by the user to deflect the deflecting tip;
a potentiometer coupled to the deflection lever and configured to turn a number of turns in response to deflection of the deflection lever, the number of turns further defining a variable resistance associated with deflecting the deflecting tip;
a processing module coupled to the potentiometer and comprising:
an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to sense the number of turns of the potentiometer to generate a digital deflection signal, the digital deflection signal defining the deflection direction and the deflection magnitude; and
a driver coupled to the ADC and configured to generate an analog deflection signal in response to the digital deflection signal;
a motor coupled to the processing module and configured to turn a number of steps based on the analog deflection signal;
a deflection pulley coupled to the motor and configured to control the deflection of the deflecting tip; and
a plurality of control wires coupled between the deflection pulley and the deflecting tip of the flexible probe, the plurality of control wires comprising a first control wire and a second control wire, the first control wire and the second control wire configured to allow the deflecting of the deflecting tip and in turn the laser fiber based on movement of the deflection pulley.

4. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processing module further comprises:
a controller comprising:
a plurality of input and output interfacing modules configured to obtain the digital dusting signals from the plurality of selection switches; and
a decision making module configured to determine a type of the dusting of the target stone, the type of dusting comprising one of a fine dusting of the target stone and a coarse dusting of the target stone.

5. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first control wire is routed through a first sleeve, the first sleeve being housed within a first static wall support to allow the first control wire to move without friction.

6. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second control wire is routed through a second sleeve, the second sleeve being housed within a second static wall support to allow the second control wire to move without friction.

7. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first control wire is tensed in response to the deflection lever being deflected to a left position and the second control wire is slackened to enable the deflecting tip to bend left in accordance to an amount of turn in the deflection lever.

8. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second control wire is tensed in response to the deflection lever being deflected to a right position and the first control wire is slackened to enable the deflecting tip to bend right in accordance to the amount of turn in the deflection lever.

9. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the working position is a predefined distance of the laser fiber from the distal end of the flexible probe and is defined by laser energy settings and composition of the target stone.

10. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laser fiber is energized to a power level and a frequency level to enable the dusting of the target stone.

11. The ureteroscope as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deflection direction and the deflection magnitude is effected by programming the controller to a sinusoidal signal.

12. A method of dusting stones in a body cavity by a ureteroscope, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processing module of a deflection control module of the ureteroscope, digital dusting signals from a plurality of selection switches, the digital dusting signals corresponding to a dusting amplitude and a dusting frequency of a deflecting tip at a distal end of a flexible probe of the ureteroscope, the digital dusting signals being received subsequent to deflection of the deflecting tip to position the deflecting tip at a minimum distance from a target stone;
processing, by the processing module, the digital dusting signals to generate an analog dusting signal; and
initiating, by the processing module, activation of a motor in the deflection control module in response to the analog dusting signal to deflect the deflecting tip using a plurality of control wires and in turn to deflect a laser fiber extending from the deflecting tip to enable dusting of the target stone.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the laser fiber is energized to a power level and a frequency level to enable the dusting of the target stone.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the laser fiber extending from the deflecting tip is viewed by an image viewing system in the flexible probe with assistance of light provided by a light source in the flexible probe.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the deflecting tip is deflected by:
generating, by the processing module, a digital deflection signal corresponding to deflection of a deflection lever by a user to deflect the deflecting tip, the digital deflection signal defining a deflection direction and a deflection magnitude of the deflecting tip;
processing, by the processing module, the digital deflection signal to generate an analog deflection signal; and
initiating, by the processing module, driving of the motor to turn a number of steps based on the analog deflection signal to deflect the deflecting tip using the plurality of control wires and a deflection pulley to position the deflecting tip at the minimum distance from the target stone.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein generating the digital deflection signal comprises:
determining, by the processing module, a number of turns of a potentiometer coupled to the deflection lever in response to deflection of the deflection lever, the number of turns further defining a variable resistance associated with deflecting the deflecting tip; and
generating, by the processing module, the digital deflection signal based on the number of turns of the potentiometer.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the deflection control module is configured to control a motor assisted movement of the deflecting tip for the dusting in response to the digital dusting signals, the motor assisted movement associated with the deflection direction and the deflection magnitude of the deflecting tip.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising:
determining, by the processing module, a type of the dusting of the target stone, the type of dusting comprising one of a fine dusting of the target stone and a coarse dusting of the target stone.

Dated this 30th day of November, 2016

Swetha SN
Of K&S Partners
Agent for the Applicant , Description:FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present subject matter generally relates to field of ureteroscopes. More particularly, the present disclosure discloses a ureteroscope and a method for dusting stones in a body cavity.