ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE

• US 20130303853A1
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corporation (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKAHASHI, Tomohisa, ICHIMURA, Hironobu
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/134
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• 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 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/121 Antistatic or EM shielding layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• 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

An electronic endoscope includes a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components, a metal frame which holds an observation window, an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device, and a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity E applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member. With the configuration, the electronic endoscope prevents occurrence of trouble, a fault, and the like in an electronic component incorporated in the distal end portion due to applied static electricity.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope comprising:

a distal end portion of an insertion portion which incorporates electronic components;

a metal frame which is disposed at the distal end portion and holds an observation window;

an earth member which is connected to a patient-side ground of an external device; and

a static-protective member which is disposed in the distal end portion to have a predetermined clearance from the metal frame and is electrically connected to the earth member to let static electricity applied to the distal end portion flow to the earth member.

2. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the static-protective member is a metal plate body having a conductive portion in a shape of a pointed end which easily discharges the static electricity.

3. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the static-protective member is a metal disk in which a plurality of conductive portions, each having a pointed shape, that easily discharge the static electricity are formed to project in an outer circumferential direction.

4. The electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the conductive portion in the static-protective member is arranged, with a predetermined clearance from the metal frame, at an insulating member which is made to fit with the metal frame such that the static electricity is aerially discharged.

5. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the static-protective member is electrically connected to a lens holding frame which is arranged on a side, closer to a proximal end of the metal frame, of an image pickup unit incorporated in the distal end portion.

6. The electronic endoscope according to claim 5, wherein

the earth member is electrically connected to the lens holding frame, and

the earth member is a radiating cable which radiates heat of the image pickup unit.

7. The electronic endoscope according to claim 6, wherein

the lens holding frame is electrically connected to a metal reinforcing frame which is insulated and arranged so as to cover a solid image pickup device and an image pickup drive circuit that are the electronic components, and

the radiating cable is connected to the metal reinforcing frame.

8. The electronic endoscope according to claim 4, wherein an anti-fogging unit which has an anti-fogging device that is the electrical component and prevents fogging of the observation window is disposed at the insulating member.