Endoscope system

• US 20060052663A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Koitabashi, Masanobu
• Application Number:
  US11/268,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope

Abstract

An external apparatus of an endoscope has a connector receptacle portion to be connected to a general connector of an endoscope main body that is a second endoscope and a first electrical connector receptacle portion provided at a different portion from the connector receptacle portion and electrically connected to an electrical connector of a first endoscope. The connector receptacle portion is provided with a light guide receptacle portion to be connected to a light guide connector provided in the general connector, a fluid connector receptacle portion to be connected to a fluid connector and a second electrical connector receptacle portion to be connected to an electrical connector.

Claims

1. An external apparatus of an endoscope, to which an endoscope main body is detachably connected, comprising:

a connector receptacle portion to be connected to a general connector of the endoscope main body;

a light guide portion disposed in the connector receptacle portion to transmit light from a light source for generating illumination light, the light guide portion being optically connected to a light incident portion provided at one end side of a light transmission portion of the endoscope main body which transmits illumination light for illuminating an examined part of a subject in accordance with an action to insert the general connector into the connector receptacle portion;

a fluid connector receptacle portion which is disposed in the connector receptacle portion and which is connected to a fluid path opening serving as an opening of a fluid path disposed in the endoscope main body in accordance with an action to insert the general connector into the connector receptacle portion;

a first electrical connector receptacle portion electrically connected to an electrical connection portion of an electrical connector of a first endoscope, the first electrical connector receptacle portion being provided at a different portion from the connector receptacle portion; and

a second electrical connector receptacle portion provided in the connector receptacle portion, the second electrical connector receptacle portion electrically connected to an electrical connection portion of a second endoscope in accordance with an action to insert the connector into the connector receptacle portion, the second endoscope having the electrical connection portion at the connector.

2. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising one or more connector for connecting a tube thereto provided near the fluid connector receptacle portion, to which is connected a fluid apparatus for supplying a fluid ejected from the endoscope main body or a second connection channel extended from the fluid apparatus to suck a fluid from the endoscope main body, the connector for connecting a tube thereto and the fluid connector receptacle portion communicating via a first connection channel.

3. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 2, wherein

the first connection channel is disposed in the inside of the external apparatus.

4. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 3, wherein

the first connection channel is provided in a channel unit, the channel unit being removably attached to the external apparatus.

5. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein

a channel unit comprises a first opening which is to be connected to the fluid path opening and which is open in a predetermined direction and a second opening which is to be connected to the second connection channel and which is open in the same direction as that of the first opening.

6. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein

a mounting portion is provided in the external apparatus, the mounting portion being a removable attachment mechanism to allow the channel unit to be removably attached.

7. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 4, wherein

an air blowing input connector receptacle portion is provided in the mounting portion, the air blowing input connector receptacle portion communicating with an air blowing channel into which a blowing gas is supplied from an air blowing source, and

the channel unit has an air blowing input connector to be connected to the air blowing input connector receptacle portion.

8. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 6, wherein

an air blowing input connector receptacle portion is provided in the mounting portion, the air blowing input connector receptacle portion communicating with an air blowing channel into which a blowing gas is supplied from an air blowing source, and

the channel unit has an air blowing input connector to be connected to the air blowing input connector receptacle portion.

9. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 5, wherein

the first opening is a fluid connector receptacle portion, and

the second opening is a connector for connecting a tube thereto.

10. The external apparatus of an endoscope according to claim 9, wherein

the fluid connector receptacle portion includes a liquid forward-spraying connector receptacle portion, a suction connector receptacle portion, a pressurizing connector receptacle portion, and a liquid spraying connector receptacle portion, and

the connector for connecting a tube thereto is a liquid forward-spraying connector, a suction connector, a pressurizing connector, and a liquid spraying connector.