Endoscope with sideview optics

• US 20040015049A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kersten Zaar
• Original Assignee: Kersten Zaar
• Inventors: Zaar, Kersten
• Application Number:
  US10/358,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015049A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

An endoscope (1) is proposed with a rotatable side-viewing optics system (11), which has a mirror (15) for deflecting light onto an object to be examined and for reflecting the image of the object. A video camera (7) is located inside a hollow cylinder (6) that can be moved in rotation and the side-viewing optics system (11) is mechanically connected to the hollow cylinder (6) on the side that faces away from the viewing direction (12) of the video camera (7).

Claims

1. Endoscope (1) with sideview optics (11),

which is rotated by an electric motor (5, 42), and

which has a mirror (15) for deviation and projection of light in a predetermined direction of view (12) on an object to be examined and for reflecting of the image of the object to a lens (17) of a video camera (7) arranged in an endoscope (1),

characterized by the fact

that the video camera (7) is located in the interior of a pivoted hollow cylinder (6) that can be rotated by an electric motor (5, 42),

that the sideview optics (11) is mechanically connected with the hollow cylinder (6) on the side turned toward the direction of view, and

that the electric motor (5, 42) is arranged behind or next to the video camera (7) in the direction of the object to be photographed by the video camera (7).

2. Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the video camera (7) is surrounded by a cylinder-shaped casing (19), which forms a clearance with the hollow cylinder (6) and that on the casing (19) at least one gasket (20) is arranged for sealing of the clearance.

3. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the electric motor (5) has a gear (9) with which the hollow cylinder (6) can be rotated by means of a hollow gear arranged on its cylinder inner wall.

4. Endoscope according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that a transmission (10) is arranged between the electric motor (5) and the gear (9).

5. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the video camera (7) is mechanically connected with the electric motor (5).

6. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the sideview optics (11) is connected with the hollow cylinder (6) by means of a semi-tubular attachment (13).

7. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the mirror (15) of the sideview optics (11) is constructed as a prism.

8. Endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the electric motor (5) propels the hollow cylinder (6) by means of a friction gear.

9. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the electric motor (5) is constructed as a stepping motor, which consists of electrical windings arranged on the casing (19) and of permanent magnets arranged on the hollow cylinder (6) that enter into electromagnetic interaction with the windings depending on their drive.

10. Endoscope according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a device (21) for the coupling of light to the fiber optic light guide (16) with a mounting support (29) of the end of the fiber optic light guide (16) turned toward the photo camera (3) that swivels in such a way that in a first swivel position of the mounting support (29) a maximum and in a second swivel position of the mounting support (29) a minimum light quantity can be coupled in the frontal area (37) of the end of the fiber optic light guide (16) attached to the mounting support (29).

11. Endoscope according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the device (21) has a lamp with a light-focusing reflector(23), that the fiber optic light guide (16) is attached to the mounting support (29) with the frontal area (37) pointing in the direction of the reflector (23), and that the mounting support (29) can be swiveled around a vertical axis (30) vertical axis (30) lying between the light focus and the reflector (23) between the first and the second swivel positions.

12. Endoscope according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by the fact that a motor driven rotating arm (38) is provided for swiveling the mounting support (29), which is mechanically connected with the mounting support (29) by means of a rod (39) and a bolt arranged outside of the axis (30).

13. Endoscope according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the electric motor (42) is connected with the hollow cylinder (6) by means of a flexible shaft (43) and a miniature gear (44).

14. Endoscope according to claim 1 or 13, characterized by the fact that the camera (7) has an adjustable lens (17), which, in order to be adjusted, is connected by means of a flexible shaft to an electric motor (45).