Connector Unit For Endoscopes

• US 20080009672A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Original Assignee: Storz Endoskop Produktions GmbH (Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg)
• Inventors: Kuster, Manfred, Klumpp, Martin, Krattiger, Beat
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00121 Connectors, fasteners and adapters, e.g. on the endoscope handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/063 for monochromatic or narrow-band illumination

Abstract

A plug-in unit with integral cable connection to the operating part of an endoscope and plug connections for lamps, mechanical, and/or electronic modules is characterized in that a hollow tube extending to the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into the plug-in unit by the integral cable connection and the operating part and has its proximal end positioned so that it is freely movable in the plug-in unit in such a way that can be conducted out of a lockable bore-hole in the wall of the plug-in unit.

Claims

1. A plug-in unit for an integral cable connection to the operating part of an endoscope and plug connections for lamps, mechanics, and/or electronics modules, characterized in that a hollow tube extending to the distal end of the endoscope is inserted into the plug-in unit by the integral cable connection and the operating part, with its proximal end positioned so that it is freely movable in the plug-in unit in such a way that it can be conducted from a lockable bore-hole into the wall of the plug-in unit.

2. A plug-in unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a hollow axle for inserting the hollow tube can be inserted into the open bore-hole.

3. A plug-in unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the hollow axle can be mounted onto an additional module in such a way that the function-determining part of the additional module is connected to the proximal aperture of the hollow tube.

4. A plug-in unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing of the additional module is configured in a mold that surrounds the plug-in unit and whose center of gravity lies on the axis of the integral cable connection.

5. A plug-in unit according to claim 3, characterized in that a single-mode laser fiber is inserted into the hollow tube and has a collimation lens connected to it on the distal side and on the proximal side has a laser diode upstream from it, positioned in a frame in a housing.