Endoscope apparatus having integrated disconnectable light transmitting and image signal transmitting cord

• US 4,888,639 A
• Filed: 05/20/1988
• Issued: 12/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yabe, Hisao, Takamura, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/197,074
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/210, 128/6
• US Class Current: 348/69
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion

Abstract

The endoscope apparatus is provided with an endoscope, a light source apparatus and an imaging controlling apparatus. The endoscope comprises an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part, an image forming optical system opposed to the observing window within the tip part of the insertable part, an illuminating light transmitting system inserted through the insertable part and emitting an illuminating light out of the illuminating window, an imaging apparatus imaging an object image formed by the image forming optical system and a first signal transmitting system connected to the imaging apparatus. The entrance end side of the illuminating light transmitting system and the base end side of the first signal transmitting system are integrated and are provided at the end with a connecting part. A second signal transmitting system connected to the first signal transmitting system is extended from the imaging controlling apparatus. A first connecting apparatus removably connects the entrance end of the illuminating light transmitting system in the connecting part to the light source apparatus and a second connecting apparatus removably connects the base end of the first signal transmitting system and the end of the second signal transmitting system in the connecting part with each other. The first signal transmitting system relating at least to imaging signals are preferably made substantially equal in the characteristic impedance.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

an endoscope having an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part; and

image forming optical system provided at said observing window within the tip part of said insertable part and forming an object image; and

illuminating light transmitting means inserted through said insertable part, opposed at the exit end to said illuminating window and emitting an illuminating light out of said illuminating window; and

imaging means for imaging the object image formed by said image forming optical system; and

a first signal transmitting means connected to said imaging means;

a light source apparatus feeding the illuminating light to said illuminating light transmitting means;

an imaging controlling apparatus controlling said imaging means;

an integrating means integrating the entrance end of said illuminating light transmitting means and the base end of said first signal transmitting means;

connecting parts provided at the entrance end of said illuminating light transmitting means and at the base end of said first signal transmitting means;

a first connecting means removably connecting the entrance end of the illuminating light transmitting means in said connecting part to said light source apparatus;

a second signal transmitting means extended from said imaging controlling apparatus and connected to said first signal transmitting means; and

a second connecting means removably connecting the base end of the first signal transmitting means in said connecting part and the end of said second signal transmitting means with each other.

2. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first signal transmitting means and second signal transmitting means relating at least to imaging signals are substantially equal in their characteristic impedances.

3. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a third signal transmitting means connected at one end to said imaging controlling apparatus and integrated with said second signal transmitting means;

a second connecting part provided at the other end of said third signal transmitting means;

a third connecting means removably fitted to said second connecting part and provided in said integrating means;

a fourth signal transmitting means connected at one end to said third connecting means;

a third connecting part provided at the other end of said fourth signal transmitting means; and

a fourth connecting means removably fitted to said third connecting part and provided in said light source apparatus.

4. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said third signal transmitting means and fourth signal transmitting means are substantially equal to each other in their characteristic impedance.

5. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a controlling means provided in said endoscope for controlling said imaging controlling apparatus;

a fifth signal transmitting means connected at one end to said controlling means and extended at the other end to said connecting part;

a sixth signal transmitting means connected at tone end to said imaging controlling apparatus, integrated with said second signal transmitting means and connected at the other end to said fifth signal transmitting means; and

a fifth connecting means removably connecting said fifth signal transmitting means and sixth signal transmitting means with each other in said connecting part.

6. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said fifth signal transmitting means and sixth signal transmitting means are substantially equal to each other in their characteristic impedances.

7. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said light source apparatus and imaging controlling apparatus is shielded.

8. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a holding means which can hold said second signal transmitting means at the end when not connected to said first signal transmitting means.

9. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said imaging means is a solid state imaging device.

10. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said solid state imaging device is provided within the tip part of the insertable part of said endoscope.

11. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said endoscope is provided with an operating part at the rear end of said insertable part and an image transmitting optical system transmitting to said operating part the object image formed by said image forming optical system, and said solid state imaging device is provided in a position in which the object image transmitted by said image transmitting optical system within said operating part can be imaged.

12. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said second signal transmitting means is formed of a curled cord.

13. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said imaging controlling apparatus is provided with a containing part which can contain said second signal transmitting means.

14. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said second signal transmitting means and said imaging controlling means are removably connected with each other.

15. An endoscope apparatus according to claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the direction of the removable connecting operation of said second connecting means is substantially perpendicular the direction of the removable fitting operation of said first connecting means.

16. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the direction of the removable connecting operation of said second connecting means is substantially parallel with the direction of the removable fitting operation of said first connecting means.

17. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising a fixing means for holding the connection of said first connecting means in the case of releasing the connection by said second connecting means.

18. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the direction of the removable connecting operation of said second connecting means is oblique to the direction of the removable connecting operation of said first connecting means.

19. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a sensing means for sensing whether or not said endoscope, light source apparatus and imaging controlling apparatus are connected with on another by said first connecting means and second connecting means.

20. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a control mean for stopping the transmission and reception of electric signals between the light source apparatus and imaging controlling apparatus and between the endoscope and imaging controlling apparatus in case it is sensed by said sensing means that any of said endoscope, light source apparatus and imaging controlling apparatus is not connected.

21. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising a control means for reducing the light amount of illuminating case it is sensed by said sensing means that any of said endoscope, light source apparatus and imaging controlling apparatus is not connected.

22. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2 wherein signal cables equal in characteristic impedance are used as said first signal transmitting means and second signal transmitting means relating at least to imaging signals.

23. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second connecting means has electric contacts connecting said first signal transmitting means and second signal transmitting with each other and the characteristic impedance of said electric contacts relating at least to imaging signals is substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of said first signal transmitting means and second signal transmitting means corresponding to said electric contacts.

24. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 23 wherein electric contacts removably connect said second signal transmitting means and said imaging controlling apparatus with each other and the characteristic impedance of said electric contacts relating at least to imaging signals is substantially equal to the characteristic impedance of said second signal transmitting means corresponding to said electric contacts.

25. An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said solid state imaging device is provided with a solid state imaging device chip including bonding pads, a substrate mounting said solid state imaging device chip, external leads supplied on said substrate, bonding wires connecting said external leads with said bonding pads, and a sealing member sealing said solid state imaging device chip and said bonding wires;

and said substrate being formed by molding and only one main push-out pin trace for pulling the molding out of the mold made of a plane part supplied on the bottom surface of said substrate being provided.

26. An endoscope connected to a light source apparatus for feeding an illuminating light and an image controlling apparatus for controlling an imaging means, comprising:

an elongate insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part;

an image forming optical system provided at said observing window within the tip part of said insertable part and forming an object image;

An illuminating light transmitting means inserted through said insertable part, opposed at the exit end to said illuminating window and emitting an illuminating light out of said illuminating window;

an imaging means for imaging the object image formed by said image forming optical system and a first signal transmitting means connected to said imaging means;

an integrating means integrating the entrance end of said illuminating light transmitting means and the base end of said first signal transmitting means with each other;

connecting parts provided at the entrance end of said illuminating light transmitting means and at the base end of said first signal transmitting means;

a first connecting means removably connecting the entrance end of the illuminating light transmitting means in said connecting part to said light source apparatus; and

a second connecting means removably connecting a second signal transmitting means extended from said imaging controlling apparatus to the base end of the first signal transmitting means in said connecting part.

27. An endoscope connected to a light source apparatus feeding an illuminating light and an imaging controlling apparatus controlling an imaging means, comprising:

an elongated insertable part having an observing window and illuminating window in the tip part;

an image forming optical system provided as opposed to said observing window within the tip part of said insertable part and forming an object image;

an illuminating light transmitting means inserted through said insertable part, opposed at the exit end to said illuminating window and emitting an illuminating light out of said illuminating window;

an imaging means for imaging the object image formed by said image forming optical system and a first signal transmitting means connected to said imaging means;

an integrating means integrating the entrance end side of said illuminating light transmitting means and the base end side of said first signal transmitting means;

connecting part provided at the entrance end of said illuminating light transmitting means and at the base end of said first signal transmitting means;

a second signal transmitting means removably connected at one end to said imaging controlling apparatus and at the other end to said first signal transmitting means;

a first connecting means removable connecting the entrance end of the illuminating light transmitting means in said connecting part to said light source apparatus; and

a second connecting means removably connecting said second signal transmitting means at the other end to said first signal transmitting means at the base end in said connecting part.

28. An endoscope according to claim 27 wherein said first signal transmitting means and second signal transmitting means relating at least to imaging signals are substantially equal in their characteristic impedances.