ENDOSCOPE FOR MAGNIFIED IMAGE OBSERVATION

• US 20070149851A1
• Filed: 12/06/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: YAMAMOTO, Akira, NAKAMURA, Tetsuya, KUROSAWA, Yae, IIMORI, Yusuke, LEE, Pilryon
• Granted Patent: US 7,985,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00172 with means for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end

Abstract

An endoscope for magnified image observation configured to observe a magnified image of in vivo tissue comprises an insertion part configured to be inserted into a body, a magnified image observation port configured to take in the magnified image of the in vivo tissue in one of a state where the magnified image observation port is in contact with the in vivo tissue and a state where the magnified image observation port is in proximity to the in vivo tissue, the observation port being provided at a distal end of the insertion part, and a marking unit configured to mark the in vivo tissue in one of the state where the magnified image observation port is in contact with the in vivo tissue and the state where the magnified image observation port is in proximity to the in vivo tissue.

Claims

1. An endoscope for magnified image observation configured to observe a magnified image of in vivo tissue, comprising:

an insertion part configured to be inserted into a body;

a magnified image observation port configured to take in the magnified image of the in vivo tissue in one of a state where the magnified image observation port is in contact with the in vivo tissue and a state where the magnified image observation port is in proximity to the in vivo tissue, the observation port being provided at a distal end of the insertion part; and

a marking unit configured to mark the in vivo tissue in one of the state where the magnified image observation port is in contact with the in vivo tissue and the state where the magnified image observation port is in proximity to the in vivo tissue.

2. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 1,

wherein the marking unit is configured to mark the in vivo tissue by applying marking liquid to a surface of the in vivo tissue, and

wherein the marking unit is provided to surround the magnified image observation port.

3. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2,

wherein the marking unit is formed as a ring surrounding the magnified image observation port, and

wherein the marking unit is configured to be detachable from the magnified image observation port.

4. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 3, further comprising a fixing mechanism for fixing a state where the marking unit is attached to the magnified image observation port so as to surround the magnified image observation port.

5. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 4,

wherein the fixing mechanism is a click member configured to elastically fix the marking unit around the magnified image observation port.

6. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 3,

wherein the magnified image observation port is configured to be protruded from a distal end surface of the insertion part, and

wherein the marking unit is formed to have the same length as the protruded length of the magnified image observation port.

7. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2,

wherein the marking unit includes a marking liquid applying member provided along an outer edge of the magnified image observation port to apply the marking liquid to the in vivo tissue.

8. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 7,

wherein the marking unit includes a marking liquid filled portion configured to be filled with the marking liquid to be supplied to the marking liquid applying member, the marking liquid filled portion being provided adjacent to the marking liquid applying member.

9. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 8,

wherein the marking liquid filled portion is configured such that it is capable of being separated from the marking liquid applying member.

10. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 8,

wherein the marking liquid filled portion is integrated with the marking liquid applying member, and

wherein the marking unit includes a marking liquid refilling opening for refilling the marking liquid into the marking liquid filled portion.

11. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 8,

wherein the marking liquid filled portion is formed in a shape of a cylinder.

12. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2, further comprising a front hood configured to be attached around the distal end of the insertion part so as to surround the distal end of the insertion part, the front hood being configured to be detachable from the distal end of the insertion part,

wherein the marking unit is provided at the front hood.

13. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2,

wherein the marking liquid applying member is formed as one of a contiguous ring and a noncontiguous ring along an outer edge of the magnified image observation port.

14. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2,

wherein the marking liquid applying member is formed as one or more dots arranged along an outer edge of the magnified image observation port with a space between each adjacent couple of the one or more dots.

15. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2, further comprising a marking shape control system that allows a user thereof to change a shape of a marking to be provided by the marking unit from a rear anchor side of the insertion part.

16. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 15,

wherein the marking liquid applying member is formed as a plurality of dots arranged along an outer edge of the magnified image observation port with a space between each adjacent couple of the plurality of dots, and

wherein the marking shape control system is configured to control the number of the dots to be exposed outside among the plurality of dots.

17. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 16,

wherein the marking shape control system is configured to move a sheet arranged to be movable along surfaces of the plurality of dots by a remote operation from the rear anchor side of the insertion part.

18. The endoscope for magnified image observation according to claim 2, further comprising a confocal optical system inside the magnified image observation port.