Endoscope with an optical system

• US 4,841,952 A
• Filed: 10/30/1987
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Michio, Nakajima, Yukio, Kambara, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/116,018
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6, 358/98, 350/96.26
• US Class Current: 600/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens

Abstract

An endoscope having an control section and an inserting section fitted with an optical system. A tubular lens frame of the optical system is disposed at the head part of the inserting section and an inclined end face which is tapered inward is formed all around the end face of the lens frame. A plurality of optical members are arranged in the lens frame and the inclined end face of the lens frame forms a substantially V-shaped annular groove together with the outside surface of an optical member disposed at the end portion of the lens frame. An adhesive is accumulated first in the annular groove and then filled in the clearance between the optical member and the lens frame. In this way, the optical member is secured airtightly to the lens frame.

Claims

1. An endoscope having an operation section and an insertion section containing an optical system, said endoscope comprising:

a tubular lens frame provided with a distal end portion of said insertion section and having an end face inclined to the axis of the lens frame;

a plurality of optical members arranged in said lens frame, one of said optical members partly projecting from the end face of said lens frame, which includes a convex lens having a spherical face and a cylindrical body, thus a substantially V-shaped annular groove being defined by the inclined end face of said lens frame and the external circumferential surface of said body; and

adhesive filled in a gap between said optical member and said lens frame.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing disposed at the distal end portion of said insertion section, said housing having a cylindrical projection, into which said lens frame is fitted; and

an insulating member covering the outside surface of said housing.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said insertion section has a bending portion which is bent by manipulating said operation section and a flexible portion connected to said bending portion by means of a coupling member, said flexible portion having a reinforcing member consisting of a plurality of spiral tubes superposed radially, at least the outermost one of said spiral tubes is removed at the connected part of said reinforcing member disposed inside said coupling member.

4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said optical members are secured air tightly to said lens frame by accumulating the adhesive in said annular groove in advance and then having said adhesive gradually filled in the gap formed between said optical members and said lens frame.

5. An endoscope comprising:

an operation section and an insertion section containing an optical system, said insertion section having a bending portion which is bent by manipulating said operation section and a flexible portion connected to said bending portion by means of a coupling member, said flexible portion having a reinforcing member consisting of a plurality of spiral tubes superposed radially, at least the outermost one of said spiral tubes is removed at the connected part of said reinforcing member disposed inside said coupling member;

a tubular lens frame provided within a distal end portion of said insertion section and having an end face inclined to the axis of the lens frame;

a plurality of optical members arranged in said lens frame, one of said optical members partly projecting from the end face of said lens frame, thus defining a substantial V-shaped annular groove together with the inclined end face of said lens frame; and

adhesive filled in a gap between said optical member and said lens frame.