Dual viewing and control apparatus for endoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dual viewing and control endoscope apparatus comprising:
- an endoscope, including an operating body, an endoscope eyepiece located on said operating body, an insertable portion extending from said operating body, an image pickup means for transmitting an optical image from a distal end of said insertable portion to said endoscope eyepiece portion, actuation means for actuating said endoscope as a function of control signals applied thereto, and first control means attached to said operating body for generating said control signals;
a parent eyepiece member optically coupled to said endoscope eyepiece and disposed at a position adjacent said operating body, said parent eyepiece member having a mounting end for mounting said parent eyepiece member on said endoscope eyepiece and having a viewing end adjacent said mounting end whereby a first operator of said apparatus can view an image from said viewing end of said primary eyepiece member and can simultaneously operate said first control means attached to said operating body; and
a remote viewing and control means coupled to said parent eyepiece member for enabling a second operator of said endoscope apparatus to view said image obtained by said image pickup means at a position remote from said operating body and to simultaneously generate endoscope actuating control signals from said position remote from said operating body whereby said first and second operators can each simultaneously view said image and operate said endoscope.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope of the motor drive type which includes at least an image pickup means within an insertable portion thereof and are operable by giving operating orders to drive units for bending, air and water feed operations. The endoscope apparatus further includes observation means and operating means for the bending, air and water feed which are disposed respectively at positions remote from the endoscope body in such a manner that a plurality of operators of the endoscope can simultaneously perform the same operations while observing the same image being observed.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A dual viewing and control endoscope apparatus comprising:
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an endoscope, including an operating body, an endoscope eyepiece located on said operating body, an insertable portion extending from said operating body, an image pickup means for transmitting an optical image from a distal end of said insertable portion to said endoscope eyepiece portion, actuation means for actuating said endoscope as a function of control signals applied thereto, and first control means attached to said operating body for generating said control signals; a parent eyepiece member optically coupled to said endoscope eyepiece and disposed at a position adjacent said operating body, said parent eyepiece member having a mounting end for mounting said parent eyepiece member on said endoscope eyepiece and having a viewing end adjacent said mounting end whereby a first operator of said apparatus can view an image from said viewing end of said primary eyepiece member and can simultaneously operate said first control means attached to said operating body; and a remote viewing and control means coupled to said parent eyepiece member for enabling a second operator of said endoscope apparatus to view said image obtained by said image pickup means at a position remote from said operating body and to simultaneously generate endoscope actuating control signals from said position remote from said operating body whereby said first and second operators can each simultaneously view said image and operate said endoscope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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12. A dual viewing and control apparatus for use with an endoscope having an actuation means responsive to control signals applied thereto, said apparatus comprising:
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a parent eyepiece member having a mounting end which may be releasably coupled to an eyepiece of an endoscope and a viewing end adjacent said mounting end whereby a first operator of said apparatus can view an image formed by said endoscope from said viewing end of said primary eyepiece member; and a remote viewing and control means coupled to said parent eyepiece portion for enabling a second operator of said apparatus to view simultaneously with said first operator said image formed by said endoscope at a position remote from said viewing end of said parent eyepiece member and for enabling said second operator to generate endoscope actuating control signals from said remote position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 21)
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23. A dual viewing and control endoscope apparatus comprising:
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an endoscope including an operating body, an insertable portion extending from said operating body, a solid state image pickup means for obtaining an optical image from a distal end of said insertable portion and for converting said image into television signals, and actuation means for actuating said endoscope as a function of control signals applied thereto; a central control apparatus having a control board and human actuable control means positioned on said control board for generating said endoscope actuating control signals; a television monitor having a picture image plane for displaying said image of said endoscope and positionable near said control board whereby more than one operator can simultaneously view said image on said picture image plane of said television monitor and can generate control signals from said human actuable control means to said actuation means of said endoscope; and signal transmission means for transmitting control signals generated from said human actuable control means to said actuation means of said endoscope and for further transmitting television signals obtained by said solid state image pickup means of said endoscope and converting them to a picture image on said television monitor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 27)
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25. A dual viewing and control apparatus for use with an endoscope having an actuation means responsive to control signals applied thereto, said apparatus comprising:
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a central control apparatus having a control board and human actuable control means positioned on said control board which are capable of generating endoscope actuating control signals; a television monitor having a picture image plane for displaying said images obtained from television signals applied thereto and positionable near said control board whereby more than one operator can simultaneously view said image on said picture image plane of said television monitor and can generate endoscope actuating control signals from said human actuable control means; and signal transmission means for transmitting endoscope actuating control signals generated from said human actuable control means and further capable of transmitting television signals applied thereto and converting them to a picture image on said television monitor.
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Specification