Noise suppressor for electronic endoscope

• US 4,615,330 A
• Filed: 08/29/1984
• Issued: 10/07/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagasaki, Tatsuo, Fujimori, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US06/645,308
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.13-303.17, 128/786, 128/4, 128/660, 128/6, 174/102 R, 333/241-243
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/901 Suppression of noise in electric signal

Abstract

A noise suppressor is provided for an electronic endoscope which incorporates a diathermic cutter or an ultrasonic diagnosis system. The electronic endoscope utilizes a solid-state camera, and in order to prevent noises from being superimposed upon the signal fed to an image display, a transmission line which transmits a high frequency current to the diathermic cutter or a transmission line which transmits an ultrasonic signal to or receives an ultrasonic signal from an ultrasonic probe is shielded by a conductor member. In particular, for a transmission line which conveys the high frequency current, impedance regulating means is connected therewith in order to prevent the high frequency current from leaking through a distributed capacitance between the transmission line and the conductor member. Alternatively, a narrow bandpass filter may be provided which limits the frequency band of the high frequency current. A coaxial cable may be used in which both the transmission line and the conductor member are formed of conductive rubber.

Claims

1. A combination, comprising:

(A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adaptable to be inserted into a coeloma, said endoscope including;

(1) a solid-state camera disposed within said insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and

(2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor, the video signal generated by the solid state camera and transmitted over the video signal lead falling within a first frequency spectrum;

(B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including;

(1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto;

(2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer, the high frequency current having a second frequency spectrum which overlaps the first frequency spectrum; and

(3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead.

2. A combination according to claim 1, further including impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current.

3. A combination according to claim 2 in which the impedance regulating means comprises a coil connected to form a parallel resonance circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission line and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

4. A combination according to claim 2, in which the power supply for diathermy includes a narrow bandpass filter for limiting the frequency band of the high frequency current to a narrow band.

5. A combination according to claim 1 in which the conductor member is disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheath through which the diathermic cutter extends.

6. A combination according to claim 1 in which the transmission line and the conductor member are formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which the coaxial cable comprises a transmission line formed of conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

8. A coaxial cable comprising

a transmission line formed of conductive rubber;

a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line;

a shielding conductor member formed of conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer;

and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

9. A coaxial cable according to claim 8, further including a close pitch coil disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating skin layer.

10. A combination, comprising:

(A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including;

(1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and

(2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor;

(B) a diathermic cutter which is removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including;

(1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto;

(2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer;

(3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal leads; and

(4) impedance regulating means which establishes a high impedance between the conductor member and the transmission line with respect to a frequency band of the high frequency current, the impedance regulating means comprising a coil connected to form a parallel resonant circuit together with a distributed capacitance between the transmission lines and the conductor member at a frequency of the high frequency current.

11. An electronic endoscope, comprising:

(A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including;

(1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;

(2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output form the solid-state camera to an image processor;

(B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including;

(1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application to a high frequency current thereto;

(2) a transmission line extending through the diathermic cutter to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messr; and

(3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the conductor member being disposed in surrounding relationship with a sheet through which the diathermic cutter extends.

12. A combination, comprising:

(A) an endoscope having an insertable portion adapted to be insertable into a coeloma, said endoscope including;

(1) a solid-state camera disposed within the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal; and

(2) a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor;

(B) a diathermic cutter removably insertable into a treatment tool channel of the endoscope and including;

(1) a distal end Messer which effects excision of an object being examined through the endoscope in response to the application of a high frequency current thereto;

(2) a transmission line extending through the insertable portion to transmit a high frequency current from a power supply for diathermy to the distal end Messer; and

(3) a conductor member which electrically shields the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductive member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively.

13. A combination according to claim 12 in which the coaxial cable comprises a transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the tramsmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

14. An electronic endoscope, comprising:

an insertable portion adapted to be inserted into a coeloma;

a solid-state camera disposed with the insertable portion for converting an image of an object being examined into a video signal;

a video signal lead extending through the insertable portion for conveying the video signal output from the solid-state camera to an image processor; and

an ultrasonic probe disposed within the insertable portion for transmitting an ultrasonic wave toward an object being examined and for receiving a reflected wave therefrom;

a transmission line extending through the insertable portion for transmitting an activating signal to the ultrasonic probe and the reflected signal from the probe to an ultrasonic diagnosis system; and

a conductor member for electrically shielding the transmission line from the video signal lead, the transmission line and the conductor member being formed by a transmission line and a shielding conductor member of a coaxial cable, respectively, the coaxial cable comprising the transmission line formed of a conductive rubber, a flexible, insulating layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the transmission line, a conductor member formed of a conductive rubber and disposed in surrounding relationship with the insulating layer, and a flexible, insulating skin layer disposed in surrounding relationship with the conductor member.

15. An endoscope according to claim 14 in which the coaxial cable further comprises a close pitch coil disposed around the insulating skin layer.

16. An endoscope according to claim 14 in which the coaxial cable also serves as means for transmitting a scanning motion to the ultrasonic probe.