ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

• US 20120209067A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evident Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: HOSAKA, Yoichi, ISHIKAWA, Yoshihisa
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00048 Constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0052 Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes an insertion part having an imaging mechanism at a distal end portion and which is bendable and elongated; a display part which displays an image acquired by an imaging mechanism; a manipulating part which performs curving manipulation of the insertion part; and a housing which the display part and the manipulating part are provided to a front face thereof, and which connects the insertion part with a back face opposite to the front face. The housing is capable of being self-supported in a state where the edge of the back face at the display part, and a connecting portion between the insertion part and the housing are brought into contact with the ground.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

an insertion part which has an imaging mechanism at a distal end portion and which is bendable and elongated;

a display part which displays an image acquired by the imaging mechanism;

a manipulating part which performs curving manipulation of the insertion part; and

a housing which the display part and the manipulating part are provided to a front face side thereof, and which connects the insertion part with a back face opposite to the front face,

wherein the housing is capable of being self-supported in a state where the edge of the back face at the display part, and a connecting portion between the insertion part and the housing are brought into contact with the ground, and

wherein when a user performs a predetermined manipulation input, the display mode of the display part is switched from a standard mode to an inverted mode corresponding to a manipulation in a state where the operating part is located above the display part and self-supported.

2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, in the inverted mode, character information and thumbnail images to be displayed on the display part is vertically reversed with respect to the standard mode.

3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a ground contact member that enhances a frictional coefficient is attached to the edge.

4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member that is attached to a proximal end portion of the insertion part connected to the housing, and holds the proximal end portion in the shape of a straight line.

5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a self-supporting auxiliary member that has a ground contact face and that is attached to a proximal end portion of the insertion part connected to the housing and assists the housing in self-supporting.

6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulating part has a manipulating rod which is capable of being swung, and

wherein a proximal end portion of the insertion part connected to the housing and the manipulating rod are coaxially arranged in a neutral state of the manipulating rod.

7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the manipulating part has a manipulating rod which is capable of being swung, and a mechanical curving mechanism in which the manipulating rod and the manipulating member are connected together, and the manipulating member is advanced or retreated by manipulating the manipulating rod to curve the insertion part.