Endoscope

• US 3,889,662 A
• Filed: 05/24/1974
• Issued: 06/17/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kazuhiko Mitsui
• Original Assignee: Kazuhiko Mitsui
• Inventors: Mitsui, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Layton, Henry S.
• Application Number:
  US05/472,988
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4,5,6,7,8,11 350/96B
• US Class Current: 600/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00181 for multiple fixed viewing angles A61B1/00193 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00195 with eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469

Abstract

Two image guiding fiber bundles are disposed within an endoscope with the base end portions thereof secured together within the proximal end section of the endoscope. A common eyepiece is arranged opposite to the base end surface of the fiber bundles. One image of the interior wall of a body organ of a patient is transmitted, through a view window opened at the front end surface of the distal end section of the endoscope, to the forward end of one fiber bundle, while another image of the interior wall of the body organ is transmitted, through another view window opened at the side end surface of the distal end section, to the forward end of the other fiber bundle. Both the images transmitted through the forward ends of the fiber bundles to the base end surfaces of the fiber bundles are simultaneously observed through the common eyepiece.

Claims

1. An endoscope having a distal end section and a front end surface and a side end surface and being adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, a flexible tube section having one end connected to the distal end section so as to facilitate guiding the distal end section into the body cavity, and a proximal end section connected to the other end of the flexible tube section so as to control the insertion of the distal end section, said endoscope comprising:

a. first and second image guiding fiber bundles having forward ends and base end portions extending respectively from the distal end section through the flexible tube section into the proximal end section to permit images of the internal wall of the body cavity to be transmitted from the respective forward ends thereof to the respective base end portions thereof, said base end portions of the first and second fiber bundles having respective image delivering end surfaces;

b. receiving means provided at the distal end section so as to receive the images into the distal end section;

c. first and second optical means provided, in proximity to the respective forward ends of the first and second image guiding fiber bundles, within the distal end section to optically transmit the images from the receiving means to the respective forward ends of the fiRst and second fiber bundles; and

d. a single optical observing means provided within the proximal end section and optically connected to the base end portions of the first and second fiber bundles to permit both the images from the receiving means to be simultaneously observed from the outside;

e. said receiving means including a first view window opened at the front end surface of the distal end section and a second view window opened at the side end surface of the distal end section, said first and second view windows optically leading to said first and second optical means, respectively.

2. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said first optical means includes a first objective lens and said second optical means includes a second objective lens and a prism.

3. An endoscope according to claim 1, in which said first optical means includes a first objective lens and said second optical means includes a second objective lens.

4. An endoscope according to claim 3, in which either one of said first and second objection lenses is a wide angle lens.

5. An endoscope according to claim 3, in which either one of said first and second objective lenses is an amplifying lens.

6. An endoscope having a distal end section having a front end surface and a side end surface and being adapted to be inserted into a body cavity, a flexible tube section having one end connected to the distal end section so as to facilitate guiding the distal end section into the body cavity, and a proximal end section connected to the other end of the flexible tube section so as to control the insertion of the distal end section, said endoscope comprising:

a. first and second image guiding fiber bundles having forward ends and base end portions extending respectively from the distal end section through the flexible tube section into the proximal end section to permit images of the internal wall of the body cavity to be transmitted from the respective forward ends thereof to the respective base end portions thereof, said base end portions of the first and second fiber bundles having respective image delivering end surfaces;

b. receiving means provided at the distal end section so as to receive the images into the distal end section and including a single view window opened at the front end surface of the distal end section;

c. first and second optical means provided, in promimity to the respective forward ends of the first and second image guiding fiber bundles, within the distal end section to optically transmit the images from the receiving means to the respective forward ends of the first and second fiber bundles, said first optical means including a first objective lens which is a wide angle lens and said second optical means including a second objective lens which is an amplifying lens, a prism and a reflecting mirror having an aperture; and

d. a single optical observing means provided within the proximal end section and optically connected to the base end portions of the first and second fiber bundles to permit both the images from the receiving means to be simultaneously observed from the outside, whereby one image is transmitted from said single view window through the reflecting mirror and the prism to the second objective lens, while at the same time another image is transmitted from the single view window through the aperture of the reflecting mirror to the amplifying lens.

7. An endoscope according to claim 6, in which said first optical means further includes a first stop and said second optical means includes a second stop.

8. An endoscope according to claim 6, in which the aperture of said reflecting mirror serves as a stop for the first objective lens.