ARC-SHAPED FLEXIBLE PRINTED CIRCUIT FILM TYPE ENDOSCOPE USING IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20100041946A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea Plant Service & Engineering Company Limited (Government of South Korea)
• Original Assignee: Korea Plant Service & Engineering Company Limited (Government of South Korea)
• Inventors: KIM, Gyung-Sub
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,596 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using an imaging device. The endoscope includes an image photographing means and an object insertion means. The image photographing means includes a head housing to which an imaging device and an illumination means are mounted, and functions to photograph an image. The object insertion means includes an arc-shaped flexible thin foil, an insulating adhesive film, a circuit film and an insulating protective film which are layered and inserted into an interior of an object to be inspected. The object insertion means is connected at one end thereof to the image photographing means and connected at the other end to a transmission cable via a connector.

Claims

1. An arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using an imaging device, comprising:

image photographing means including a head housing to which an imaging device and an illumination means are mounted, and photographing an image; and

object insertion means including an arc-shaped flexible thin foil, an insulating adhesive film, a circuit film and an insulating protective film which are layered and inserted into an interior of an object to be inspected, the object insertion means being connected at a first end thereof to the image photographing means and connected at a second end thereof to a transmission cable via a connector.

2. The arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using the imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises a CCD camera or a CMOS sensor.

3. The arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using the imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the illumination means comprises a LED lamp, and is configured so that a lamp support is inserted into a support insertion groove of the head housing in such a way that the LED lamp mounted to the lamp support is inserted into a lamp insertion hole of the head housing, and a LED terminal contact point formed on a back of the lamp support is in contact with a terminal contact point formed on a side surface of a rear portion of the support insertion groove.

4. The arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using the imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the head housing comprises:

a plurality of lamp insertion holes formed in upper and lower portions of a front end of the head housing;

a plurality of support insertion grooves communicating with the lamp insertion holes;

a window formed in a central portion of the front end of the head housing;

an imaging device insertion hole formed in a middle portion of the head housing in a longitudinal direction thereof to communicate with the window, with a terminal contact point of the imaging device formed on a side surface on a rear portion of the imaging device insertion hole; and

a connection surface provided on a rear end of the head housing, with a pin hole formed in an end of the connection surface.

5. The arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using the imaging device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the object insertion means is constructed so that a first surface of the circuit film is attached to the arc-shaped flexible thin foil via an insulating adhesive film, and the insulating protective film is attached to a second surface of the circuit film using an adhesive.

6. The arc-shaped flexible printed circuit film type endoscope using the imaging device as set forth in claim 5, wherein circuit means and transmission means for processing and transmitting an image photographed by the imaging device are formed on the circuit film.