ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

• US 20090287047A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Oda, Tomohiko, Sato, Minoru, Niwa, Hiroshi, Onoda, Fumiyuki, Aizawa, Chieko, Miyake, Kensuke, Miyoshi, Yoshitaka
• Application Number:
  US12/066,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/009 with bending or curvature detection of the insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe

Abstract

To facilitate a connection operation between a signal processing device and an endoscope apparatus in which a processing system that performs signal processing of image pickup signals of an electronic endoscope and a processing system that calculates an insertion shape of the endoscope are integrated, a scope connector 41 of the endoscope has a connector for inputting signals from UPD coils 58, and can be connected to an endoscope system controlling device 5 via an adaptor 42 together with other video signals and the like.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus, comprising:

an electronic endoscope having a shape information generating section for generating insertion shape information inside an insertion portion, and an image pickup section that picks up images inside a body cavity; and

a signal processing device integrally formed of an endoscope signal processing section that drives the electronic endoscope and processes image pickup signals from the electronic endoscope, and an endoscope insertion shape calculating section that calculates an insertion shape of the electronic endoscope based on the insertion shape information from the shape information generating section.

2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device includes a first connection portion to be connected to the image pickup section of the electronic endoscope and a second connection portion to be connected to the shape information generating section of the electronic endoscope.

3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and second connection portions are provided in an adaptor attaching portion for attaching an adaptor.

4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first and second connection portions include respective electric contact points.

5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adaptor has an electrical connection portion that detachably connects to an electrical connector of the electronic endoscope that connects the shape information generating section and the image pickup section.

6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adaptor has a conduit connection portion that is inserted between an endoscope side conduit connector provided in the electronic endoscope and a peripheral device side conduit connector provided in an endoscope peripheral device, and that detachably connects the endoscope side conduit connector and the peripheral device side conduit connector.

7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope peripheral device has at least one of functions of air supply, water supply, and suction.

8. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the conduit connection portion includes a conduit for at least one of the air supply, water supply, or suction of the endoscope peripheral device.

9. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the endoscope peripheral device has air supply, water supply, and suction functions.

10. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conduit connection portion includes three conduits for the air supply, water supply, and suction of the endoscope peripheral device, and the adaptor is on a side connected with the endoscope side conduit connector and has a separation portion between two conduits for the air supply and the water supply and a conduit for the suction.

11. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adaptor comprises a connector that is formed adjacent to the endoscope side conduit connector in the electronic endoscope, and is used for electrically connecting the electrical connector of the electronic endoscope and another electrical connector.

12. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adaptor is on a side connected with the electrical connector of the electronic endoscope, and has a separation portion between the electrical connector and the other electrical connector.

16. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the adaptor has an electrical connection portion that detachably connects to an electrical connector of the electronic endoscope that connects the shape information generating section and the image pickup section.

17. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the adaptor has a conduit connection portion that is inserted between an endoscope side conduit connector provided in the electronic endoscope and a peripheral device side conduit connector provided in an endoscope peripheral device, and that detachably connects the endoscope side conduit connector and the peripheral device side conduit connector.

18. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the endoscope peripheral device has at least one of functions of air supply, water supply, and suction.

19. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the endoscope peripheral device has air supply, water supply, and suction functions.

20. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the adaptor comprises a connector that is formed adjacent to the endoscope side conduit connector in the electronic endoscope, and is used for electrically connecting the electrical connector of the electronic endoscope and another electrical connector.

13. An endoscope apparatus, comprising:

an electronic endoscope having a shape information generating section for generating insertion shape information inside an insertion portion, and an image pickup section that picks up images inside a body cavity; and

a signal processing device integrally formed of an endoscope signal processing section that drives the electronic endoscope and processes image pickup signals from the electronic endoscope, and an endoscope insertion shape calculating section that calculates an insertion shape of the electronic endoscope based on the insertion shape information from the shape information generating section;

an adaptor including an electrical connection portion that detachably connects an electrical connector of the electronic endoscope that connects the shape information generating section and the image pickup section; and

an adaptor attaching portion provided in the signal processing device and which is used for attaching the adaptor.

14. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the signal processing device includes a first connection portion that connects with the image pickup section of the electronic endoscope, and a second connection portion that connects with the shape information generating section of the electronic endoscope;

and

the first and second connection portions are provided in the adaptor attaching portion.

15. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first and second connection portions include respective electric contact points.