Optical connector and endoscope with optical connector
First Claim
1. An optical connector comprising:
- (a) a tubular connector body having a stopper portion and a first threaded portion formed on an outer periphery of said connector body, one end portion of a light guide being adapted to be inserted in and fixed to said connector body;
(b) a tubular retainer including an abutment portion, a second threaded portion which is formed on an inner periphery of a proximal end portion of said retainer and is threadedly engaged with said first threaded portion, and a radially inwardly-directed annular flange formed on the inner periphery of said retainer adjacent to an open distal end of said retainer, said retainer being threaded on said connector body to such an extent that said abutment portion is abutted against said stopper portion of said connector body;
(c) an optical element received in said retainer and disposed between said flange of said retainer and the one end face of said light guide; and
(d) an annular elastic member received in said retainer and disposed between said optical element and a distal end surface of said connector body, said elastic member urging said optical element against said flange of said retainer, thereby keeping said optical element away a predetermined distance from the one end face of said light guide.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an optical connector for use in an endoscope. The optical connector includes a connector body for fixedly receiving one end portion of a light guide, and a retainer receiving an optical element. The retainer is threaded on the connector body to such an extent that an abutment surface of the retainer is abutted against a stopper surface of the connector body. An annular flange is formed on an inner periphery of the retainer adjacent to a distal open end of the retainer. The optical element and an annular elastic member are disposed between the flange of the retainer and a distal end surface of the connector body. The elastic member urges the optical element against the flange, thereby keeping the optical element away a predetermined distance from the one end of the light guide.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An optical connector comprising:
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(a) a tubular connector body having a stopper portion and a first threaded portion formed on an outer periphery of said connector body, one end portion of a light guide being adapted to be inserted in and fixed to said connector body; (b) a tubular retainer including an abutment portion, a second threaded portion which is formed on an inner periphery of a proximal end portion of said retainer and is threadedly engaged with said first threaded portion, and a radially inwardly-directed annular flange formed on the inner periphery of said retainer adjacent to an open distal end of said retainer, said retainer being threaded on said connector body to such an extent that said abutment portion is abutted against said stopper portion of said connector body; (c) an optical element received in said retainer and disposed between said flange of said retainer and the one end face of said light guide; and (d) an annular elastic member received in said retainer and disposed between said optical element and a distal end surface of said connector body, said elastic member urging said optical element against said flange of said retainer, thereby keeping said optical element away a predetermined distance from the one end face of said light guide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An endoscope comprising an endoscope body;
- an insertion tube extending from said endoscope body and having an illumination window at its distal end;
a light guide tube detachably connected at its proximal end to said endoscope body;
a first light guide passing through said light guide tube;
a second light guide passing through said endoscope body and said insertion tube and opposed at its one end to said illumination window;
a first optical connector mounted on a distal end of said light guide tube;
a second optical connector mounted on the proximal end of said light guide tube; and
a third optical connector mounted on said endoscope body;
one end of said first light guide being connected to said first optical connector, the other end of said first light guide being connected to said second optical connector, the other end of said second light guide being connected to said third optical connector, said second and third optical connectors being detachably connected together, light from a light source passing through said first optical connector, said first light guide, said second optical connector, said third optical connector, said second light guide and said illumination window to be radiated to the exterior of said endoscope, andsaid second optical connector comprising; (a) a first tubular connector body having a radially-directed annular stopper surface, and a first threaded portion formed on an outer periphery of said connector body, the other end portion of said first light guide being inserted in and fixed to said connector body; (b) a first tubular retainer including a radially-directed annular abutment surface, a second threaded portion which is formed on an inner periphery of a proximal end portion of said retainer and is threadedly engaged with said first threaded portion, and a radially inwardly-directed annular flange formed on the inner periphery of said retainer adjacent to an open distal end of said retainer, said retainer being threaded on said connector body to such an extent that said abutment surface is abutted against said stopper surface of said connector body; (c) a first optical element received in said retainer and disposed between said flange of said retainer and the other end face of said first light guide; and (d) a first annular elastic member received in said retainer and disposed between said optical element and a distal end surface of said connector body, said elastic member urging said optical element against said flange of said retainer, thereby keeping said optical element away a predetermined distance from the other end face of said first light guide. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
- an insertion tube extending from said endoscope body and having an illumination window at its distal end;
Specification