ENDOSCOPE AND HYDROPHILIC CAP

• US 20080228035A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: GOTO, Atsushi, YAMAMOTO, Hirofumi, YAMAGUCHI, Takao, TSUJI, Kiyoshi, HAGIHARA, Masahiro, KINOSHITA, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,029,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/10 Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements G02B1/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/11 Anti-reflection coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

An endoscope includes: an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject; an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion; an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits; a first hydrophilic portion that is film-formed at least on a surface of the optical member; a second hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a first surface of the distal end portion in which the optical member is disposed; and a third hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a second surface separate from the first surface of the distal end portion.

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject;

an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion;

an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits;

a first hydrophilic portion that is film-formed at least on a surface of the optical member;

a second hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a first surface of the distal end portion in which the optical member is disposed; and

a third hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a second surface separate from the first surface of the distal end portion.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first hydrophilic portion, the second hydrophilic portion, and the third hydrophilic portion are hydrophilic films that are continuously formed.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on an outer surface of the insertion portion.

4. The endoscope according to claim 2, further comprising a fourth hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on an outer surface of the insertion portion.

5. A hydrophilic cap comprising:

a cylindrical body having an essentially circular ring shape, that is detachably attachable to a distal end portion of an endoscope;

a transparent plate body disposed on one end of the cylindrical body; and

a hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a surface of at least the plate body.

6. The hydrophilic cap according to claim 5, wherein the hydrophilic portion is film-formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body to be continuous with a surface of the plate body.

7. An endoscope comprising:

an insertion portion including a distal end portion, to be inserted into a subject;

an observation optical system disposed in the insertion portion;

an optical member configuring a part of an outer surface of the distal end portion, through which a photographing light to be incident into the observation optical system transmits;

a cylindrical body having an essentially circular ring shape, that is detachably attachable to the distal end portion;

a transparent plate body disposed on one end of the cylindrical body; and

a hydrophilic portion that is film-formed on a surface of at least the plate body.

8. The endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the hydrophilic portion is film-formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body to be continuous with the surface of the plate body.