Endoscope system

• US 5,301,061 A
• Filed: 03/07/1990
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Minoru, Sakamoto, Nobuyuki, Lorenz, Peter G., Sakiyama, Katsunori, Nakada, Akio, Tohjoh, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thong
• Application Number:
  US07/489,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.26, 350/574, 356/241, 356/383-385, 128/4-7, 128/395, 606/14, 606/18, 606/19, 359/882, 359/574, 359/226, 359/362-363, 359/503-512, 359/896, 358/98
• US Class Current: 359/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00071 Insertion part of the endoscope body A61B1/0055 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00174 characterised by the viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/122 using cleaning tools, e.g. brushes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The endoscope system of this invention is formed of an endoscope having an insertable part provided in the tip part with an illuminating window and a receiving window receiving an object image illuminated by an illuminating light emitted from the illuminating window and a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connected to the endoscope, inserted through the insertable part when connected to the endoscope and having respectively different functions.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

each of said plurality of sheaths including connecting means for connection with said endoscope;

wherein each of said connecting means is formed on an intermediate part of a respective one of said plurality of sheaths between the tip part and a base end part thereof, each of said sheaths being elongate and tubular and having on one end thereof a tip part to be inserted into an object to be inspected and a base end part positioned at said insertable part of said endoscope.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein each of said connecting means is formed of a groove provided on the inner peripheral surface of said sheath to fit a spring member provided on the outer peripheral surface of said insertable part.

3. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

each of said plurality of sheaths including connecting means for connection with said endoscope;

wherein each of said connecting means is formed on a rear end of a respective one of said plurality of sheaths, each of said plurality of sheaths being elongate and tubular and having on one end thereof a tip part to be inserted into an object to be inspected and a base end part positioned at said insertable part of said endoscope.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 3 wherein each of said connecting means is formed of a screw part screwing with a screw part provided in said insertable part.

5. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

said plurality of sheaths having at least two of a reinforcing sheath, a channel fitted sheath, a visual field changing sheath, a manually operable sheath, and an electrically operable sheath;

wherein each of said plurality of sheaths includes a base end and a tip end, and wherein each of said plurality of sheaths includes a flexible portion at said tip end having curving means for causing curving of said flexible portion, and further comprising a controlling means for controlling curving of said flexible portion.

6. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

wherein each of said plurality of sheaths respectively includes a channel portion for receiving said insertable part therein and includes a treating instrument channel disposed along said inserting channel.

7. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

wherein one of said plurality of sheaths comprises a fixed brush fitted sheath having a brush disposed in a tip part of said sheath.

8. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

wherein one of said plurality of sheaths comprises a grinding device fitted sheath having a jetting port for ejecting a jet of grinding material, said jetting port being disposed in a tip part of said sheath.

9. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

wherein one of said plurality of sheaths comprises a sensor sheath removably fitted with a sensor adapter having a sensor.

12. An endoscope system according to claim 9 wherein said sensor sheath is connected to a sensor monitor for displaying the information detected by said sensor.

13. An endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said sensor monitor has an eyepiece part for observing an object image of said endoscope so that the information together with the object image is observed.

10. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions, said plurality of sheaths having at least two of a reinforcing sheath, a channel fitted sheath, a visual field changing sheath, a manually operable sheath, and an electrically operable sheath;

wherein said endoscope includes a solid state imaging device for converting to an electric signal the object image taken in from said receiving window.

11. An endoscope system according to any of claims 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, wherein each of said plurality of sheaths respectively includes a connecting means for the connection of a respective one of said plurality of sheaths with said endoscope.

14. An endoscope system, comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminated by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

wherein one of said plurality of sheaths comprises a rotary hone fitted sheath having a rotary hone.

15. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope having a tip part, said tip part including an insertable part which has an illuminating window for emitting light for illuminating an object and a receiving window for receiving an image of the object illuminating by said illuminating light emitted from said illuminating window; and

a plurality of sheaths selectively and removably connectable to said endoscope, each of said plurality of sheaths having a hollow interior portion for receiving said insertable part therein when connected to said endoscope, and said plurality of sheaths having respectively different structures for producing respectively different functions;

said plurality of sheaths having at least two of a reinforcing sheath, a channel fitted sheath, a visual field changing sheath, a manually operable sheath, and an electrically operable sheath;

said plurality of sheaths each including respective connecting means for the connection of a respective one of said plurality of sheaths with said endoscope; and

wherein said respective connecting means of each of said plurality of sheaths each has a substantially identical structure.