Connecting device for an endoscope

• US 4,565,423 A
• Filed: 04/19/1985
• Issued: 01/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ueda, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, PAUL M
• Application Number:
  US06/724,939
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 350/171, 350/502, 350/506, 128/4, 128/6, 128/172, 128/173, 128/174
• US Class Current: 359/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00197 characterised by multiple eyepieces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1073 characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence

Abstract

A connecting device includes a cylindrical body to both ends of which are connected an endoscope and a television camera and from which a light guide provided with an eyepiece section at its one end for connecting a steal camera is extended. In the cylindrical body is provided a support in which first and second prisms having different light splitting ratios are movably provided to selectively face the other end of the light guide.

Claims

1. A connecting apparatus for optically connecting an endoscope and a television camera and selectively optically connecting the endoscope to a still camera simultaneously with the optical connection between the endoscope and the television camera, comprising:

a connecting device which connects the endoscope and the television camera in a state aligned to a first optical axis and is capable of connecting the still camera to it, including;

an eyepiece section having a second optical axis crossing said first optical axis to define an optical path intersection point;

supporting means movable located adjacent to said optical path intersection point;

first and second light splitting members mounted on said supporting means, and first light splitting member having a light splitting ratio different from the light splitting ratio of said second light splitting member so that the first light splitting member guides more light to the television camera than does the second light splitting member; and

driving means for moving said supporting means to selectively bring each of said first and second light splitting members to a position corresponding to the optical path intersection point and automatically moving said second light splitting member to said optical path intersection point when the still camera is mounted on said eyepiece section, said driving means including biasing means connected to said supporting means for urging said supporting means into a position with said first light splitting member located at said optical axis intersection point and moving means connected to said supporting means for overcoming the urging of said biasing means and moving said supporting means into a position with said second light splitting member located at said optical path intersection point, and moving means actuating means mounted on said eyepiece section for actuating said moving means when a still camera is mounted on said eyepiece and for deactuating said moving means when the still camera is removed from said eyepiece section so that said biasing means moves said first light splitting member back to said optical path intersection point;

an engaging member provided on the eyepiece of the endscope to be engaged with the mount portion of the still camera, said moving means actuating means being connected to said engaging member; and

means on the still camera for engaging said engaging member.

2. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes a cylindrical body connected at one end to the television camera and connected at the other end to the endoscope, and a light guide secured to said body and extending from said body, said eyepiece section being provided on the end of said light guide opposite said body, said light guide being coaxial with said second optical axis.

3. The connecting device according to claim 2, wherein said supporting means has a mounting groove, said first and second light splitting members being disposed in said mounting groove for movement therealong.

4. The connecting device according to claim 3, wherein said mounting groove is a straight groove, said first and second light splitting members being disposed in said straight mounting groove for movement therealong, and wherein said driving means includes an operating rod having one end projecting from the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and the other end connected to said first and second light splitting members, said operating rod being movable relative to said body.

5. The connecting device according to claim 3, wherein said mounting groove is an arcuate groove, and wherein said driving means includes a coupling member securing said first and second light splitting members to each other so that said first and second light splitting members are moved in unison with each other along said arcuate groove, and an operating rod having one end projecting from the outer periphery of said cylindrical body and the other end connected to said coupling member, said operating rod being pivotally

6. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a wire connected at one end to said light splitting members and led to said eyepiece section, said wire being pulled to move said light splitting members when the still camera is mounted on said eyepiece section.

7. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein said first light splitting member leads 50% of incident light to the television camera and leads the remaining 50% of light to said eyepiece section, and said second light splitting member leads 30% of incident light to the television camera and the remaining 70% of light to said eyepiece section.

8. The connecting device according to claim 2, wherein said driving means includes a switch closed when the still camera is mounted on said eyepiece section and electric means electrically driven to move said light splitting members with the closure of said switch.