Endoscope device

• US 20030158462A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Takase, Seisuke
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/125 using fluid circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/122 Chambers for sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps

Abstract

An endoscope device in accordance with the present invention consists mainly of an endoscope, a light source apparatus, a video processor, and a monitor. The endoscope includes an insertion unit, an operation unit, a linkage cord, a connector unit, and an electric connector. The insertion unit is flexible and elongated. The operation unit is coupled to the proximal end of the insertion unit. The endoscope can undergo at least one of cleansing, disinfection, and sterilization that is performed at a high temperature. Furthermore, a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of the operation unit of the endoscope occurring when the endoscope is cooled within a predetermined domain of temperatures is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of the insertion unit.

Claims

1. An endoscope device comprising:

an insertion unit; and

an operation unit coupled to said insertion unit, wherein;

a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of said operation unit occurring when said operation unit is cooled within a predetermined domain of temperatures is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

2. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit has a grip portion by which an operator grasps said operation unit;

and at least part of the external surface of said operation unit corresponds to the external surface of said grip portion.

3. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the external surface of said operation unit is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

4. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein a member made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said operation unit is disposed adjacently to at least part of the external surface of said operation unit.

5. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined domain of temperatures within which said operation unit and insertion unit are cooled corresponds to a range from substantially 35°

C. to 140°

C.

6. The endoscope device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder member for holding said operation unit, wherein:

since said holder member holds said operation unit, said holder member comes into contact with at least part of the external surface of said operation unit, and heat dissipated from at least part of the external surface of said operation unit is conveyed to said holder member.

7. The endoscope device according to claim 6, wherein said holder member is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

8. An endoscope device comprising:

an insertion unit;

an operation unit which is coupled to said insertion unit and which an operator grasps for handling it, wherein;

said operation unit includes heat radiating means as at least part of the external surface thereof; and

a drop in the temperature of said heat radiating means occurring when said operation unit is cooled within a predetermined domain of temperatures is substantially equal to or larger than a drop in the temperature of at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

9. The endoscope device according to claim 8, wherein said heat radiating means is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

10. The endoscope device according to claim 9, wherein said heat radiating means is disposed adjacently to other member that is included in said operation unit and that is made of a material exhibiting poorer heat conductivity than that of a material made into said heat radiating means.

11. The endoscope device according to claim 8, wherein said heat radiating means includes a grip casing member by which an operator grasps said operation unit.

12. The endoscope device according to claim 11, wherein said grip casing member is made of a resin material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

13. The endoscope device according to claim 12, wherein said grip casing member is disposed adjacently to other member that is included in said operation unit and that is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a resin material made into said grip casing member.

14. The endoscope device according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined domain of temperatures within which said operation unit and insertion unit are cooled corresponds to a range substantially from 35°

C. to 140°

C.

15. The endoscope device according to claim 8, further comprising holder means for holding said operation unit, wherein:

since said holder means holds said operation unit, said holder means comes into contact with said heat radiating means, and heat dissipated from said heat radiating means is conveyed to said holder means.

16. The endoscope device according to claim 15, wherein said heat radiating means is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into at least part of the external surface of said insertion unit.

17. The endoscope device according to claim 16, wherein said holder means is made of a material exhibiting better heat conductivity than that of a material made into said heat radiating means.

18. The endoscope device according to claim 17, wherein said holder means is made of a metallic material.

19. An endoscope device comprising:

an insertion unit; and

an operation unit coupled to said insertion unit, wherein;

the external surface of said insertion unit is made of a material that exhibits predetermined heat conductivity when said insertion unit is cooled within a predetermined domain of temperatures;

and the external surface of said operation unit is made of a material that exhibits substantially the same or better heat conductivity as or than that of the material made into at least part of said insertion unit when said operation unit is cooled within said predetermined domain of temperatures.

20. The endoscope device according to claim 19, wherein said grip portion includes a grip casing member that serves as an outline member, and a metallic member that comes into contact with the surface of said grip casing member and that exhibits substantially the same or better heat conductivity as or than that of said grip casing member.