Endoscope and endoscopic system

• US 20060293562A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Katsuya, Onoda, Fumiyuki, Noguchi, Toshiaki, Uchimura, Sumihiro, Taniguchi, Akira
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera

Abstract

An endoscope of the present invention includes an insert section inserted in a subject body, an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section, a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section, a signal circuit extending from the control process section, and a connection section provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted.

Claims

1. An endoscope, comprising:

an insert section inserted in a subject body;

an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section;

a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section;

a signal circuit extending from the control process section; and

a connection unit provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the signal circuit includes a signal transmission section for commonly transmitting signals of plural types.

3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the signal transmission section is connected to a signal transmission line inserted through the tube unit in the connection unit with use of a predetermined connection section.

4. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a connection section that does not rely on a contact through a metal electrode.

5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein the connection section that does not rely on a contact through the metal electrode includes a connection based on noncontact electromagnetic coupling.

6. The endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a wireless connection section.

7. An endoscope, comprising:

an insert section inserted in a subject body;

an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section;

a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section;

a signal circuit extending from the control process section;

an electric power circuit for transmitting an electric power to be supplied to an electric circuit in the operation section; and

a connection unit provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the signal circuit includes a signal transmission section for commonly transmitting signals of plural types.

9. The endoscope according to claim 8, wherein the signal transmission section and the electric circuit are respectively connected to a signal transmission line and a power supply line inserted through the tube unit in the connection unit with use of a predetermined connection section.

10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a connection section that does not rely on a contact through a metal electrode.

11. The endoscope according to claim 10, wherein the connection section that does not rely on a contact through the metal electrode includes a connection based on noncontact electromagnetic coupling.

12. An endoscope, comprising:

an insert section inserted in a subject body;

an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section;

a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section;

a signal circuit extending from the control process section;

a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted; and

a connection unit provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of the tube unit.

13. The endoscope according to claim 12, wherein the signal circuit includes a signal transmission section for commonly transmitting signals of plural types.

14. The endoscope according to claim 13, wherein the signal transmission section is connected to a signal transmission line inserted through the tube unit in the connection unit with use of a predetermined connection section.

15. The endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a connection section that does not rely on a contact through a metal electrode.

16. The endoscope according to claim 15, wherein the connection section that does not rely on a contact through the metal electrode includes a connection based on noncontact electromagnetic coupling.

17. The endoscope according to claim 14, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a wireless connection section.

18. An endoscopic system, comprising:

an endoscope, including;

an insert section inserted in a subject body;

an operation section provided at a base end of the insert section;

a control process section provided in the operation section, for controlling an image pickup section for capturing a subject body image and a predetermined function in the operation section;

a signal circuit extending from the control process section;

a tube unit through which at least one duct line is inserted; and

a connection unit provided to the operation section, for allowing detachable connection of the tube unit;

an air water suction unit to which the endoscope is connected and which has an air water and suction function; and

an endoscopic system control device for performing a predetermined control on the endoscope through transmission and reception of a predetermined signal with the signal circuit in the endoscope.

19. The endoscopic system according to claim 18, wherein the signal circuit includes a signal transmission section for commonly transmitting signals of plural types.

20. The endoscopic system according to claim 19, wherein the signal transmission section is connected to a signal transmission line inserted through the tube unit in the connection unit with use of a predetermined connection section.

21. The endoscopic system according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a connection section that does not rely on a contact through a metal electrode.

22. The endoscopic system according to claim 21, wherein the connection section that does not rely on a contact through the metal electrode includes a connection based on noncontact electromagnetic coupling.

23. The endoscopic system according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined connection section includes a wireless connection section.

24. An endoscope including an insert section including a distal end section provided with an illumination window and an observation window and a freely bendable bending section, comprising:

a first light guide member for guiding a part of an illumination light to be output to a peripheral section thereof including the bending section from the illumination window;

a pressure deformation member that is at least arranged at the peripheral section including the bending section, allows the light guided by the first light guide member to be output to the inside, and changes its form in accordance with a pressure amount from the outside; and

a second light guide member for receiving and guiding the light output to the inside of the pressure deformation member; and

a light detection section for detecting the light guided by the second light guide member.

25. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the first light guide member guides an illumination light on the periphery side of the illumination light output from the illumination window.

26. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the first and second light guide members are each composed of an optical fiber.

27. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the pressure deformation member is arranged on an inner side of the bending section and forms a detection section for a bending amount of the bending section.

28. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the first light guide member is composed by using a light guide fiber arranged on the peripheral side in a light guide fiber bundle that structures a light guide for outputting an illumination light from the illumination window.

29. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the pressure deformation members are arranged at plural positions in a longitudinal direction of the insert section in the peripheral section including the bending section.

30. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the pressure deformation members are arranged at plural positions in a circumferential direction of the insert section in the peripheral section including the bending section.

31. The endoscope according to claim 24, further comprising a determining section for determining whether or not the pressure amount equal to or larger than a predetermined value is effected on the basis of an output signal from the light detection section.

32. The endoscope according to claim 24, further comprising a regulation section for regulating bend of the bending section on the basis of a change of an output signal from the light detection section.

33. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the first light guide member includes a light branching section for taking in a part of the illumination light.

34. The endoscope according to claim 24, wherein the light detection section detects the pressure amount effected on the pressure deformation member on the basis of a change amount from a reference value that is set by a detection output of a light guided from a reference member having substantially the same characteristic as the pressure deformation member while the reference member is not allowed to be deformed.

35. A bending drive control method, comprising:

a first step of bending a bending section in a bending instruction direction in response to a bending instruction;

a second step of detecting whether or not an output change of a pressure amount detection that is arranged at a peripheral section of the bending section and optically performs pressure amount detection, is equal to or larger than a reference value when the bending drive is performed,

a third step of regulating the bending drive when the output change of a pressure amount detection is equal to or larger than the reference value.

36. An endoscope including an insert section and a duct line inserted through the insert section, comprising:

a transparent duct line section provided to the duct line; and

a light detector for detecting light transmitted through the transparent duct line section.

37. The endoscope according to claim 36, wherein the duct line includes an air water duct line.

38. The endoscope according to claim 36, wherein the duct line includes a suction duct line.