Video endoscope

• US 5,235,965 A
• Filed: 02/15/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiroya, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cherichetti, Cindy A.
• Application Number:
  US07/655,693
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 600/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion

Abstract

A video endoscope provided in the insertable tip in parallel with an imaging apparatus and a treating instrument channel through which a laser treating instrument can be inserted and provided with a light intercepting part so that a leaking light of the laser treating instrument inserted through the treating instrument channel as well as reflected laser light may not enter the light receiving part of the imaging device through the other course than the optical course leading to the light receiving part of the imaging device through the image forming optical system from the observing window.

Claims

1. In a video endoscope including an insertable part at the tip in parallel with an imaging apparatus, the imaging apparatus including an observing window, imaging forming optical system and solid-state imaging device and a treating instrument channel through which a laser treating instrument is insertable, the improvement comprising:

a light intercepting means for intercepting laser light leaking from said laser treating instrument inserted through said treating instrument channel and from reflected laser light so as not to enter a light receiving part of said solid-state imaging device through a course other than an axially-oriented optical course leading to said light receiving part of said solid-state imaging device through said image forming optical system from said observing window.

2. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a course other than the optical course leading to said light receiving part of the said solid-state imaging device through said image forming optical system from said observing window is a course leading to a side of said imaging apparatus from a peripheral wall of said treating instrument channel.

3. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means forms a tip side of said treating instrument channel and a channel pipe connected to a channel tube is formed of a material not transmitting a laser light and is extended at an end rearward from said light receiving part of said solid state imaging device.

4. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means is arranged at least on a peripheral half of said solid state imaging device side from an end of said channel pipe forming said treating instrument channel to the vicinity of said imaging apparatus ending end of said channel tube.

5. A video endoscope according to claim 4, wherein said light intercepting means is arranged on an outer periphery of said channel tube.

6. A video endoscope according to claim 1, the improvement further comprising:

a holder housing said imaging device within said endoscope; and

a thermoshrinking tube in the rear of said imaging device,

wherein said light intercepting means is arranged on said treating instrument channel side in an area extending from said holder to said thermoshrinking tube.

7. A video endoscope according to claim 6, wherein said light intercepting means comprises a foil blocking the transmission of laser light.

8. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a tip forming part forming a main body of said tip of said insertable part formed of a light intercepting material.

9. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a channel pipe forming a treating instrument channel formed of a light intercepting material.

10. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bending frame forming a bending part connected to said tip of said insertable part on a rear side formed of a light intercepting material.

11. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a thermoshrinking tube covering said imaging device on a rear side formed to be black.

12. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a channel tube forming a treating instrument channel treated to be black.

13. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent with which a part from a rear of said imaging device to a cable is charged made black.

14. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent bonding a lens frame housing to an objective lens system and a holder housing the imaging device with each other made black.

15. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent bonding a lens frame and a tip forming part with each other made black.

16. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent bonding a channel coil wound on an outer periphery of a channel tube to prevent buckling of said tube and a tue with each other made black.

17. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent bonding a pipe of a light guide fiber bundle and a tip forming part with each other made black.

18. A video endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means has a bonding agent bonding a light guide lens and tip forming part with each other made black.